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EYE ON BOLLYWOOD                                                         JUNE 26, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 39


                                       The Silent Heroes:




         A Kangana Film That Puts India’s




                               Nurses in the Spotlight






                ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata’ tells the story of ordinary healthcare workers whose

        extraordinary courage during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks has long remained in the shadows.



        OUR BUREAU                                                                                            are a part of our daily lives; however,
                                                                                                              they have contributed toward a ma-
        Mumbai
                                                                                                              jor cause,” she said, adding that her
                 hen stories are told about                                                                   character uses humour to lighten
                 the 26/11 Mumbai terror                                                                      difficult situations.
        Wattacks,  the  spotlight  usu-                                                                           Esha Dey’s role explores anoth-
        ally falls on security personnel, po-                                                                 er dimension of nursing—the emo-
        lice officers and first responders who                                                                tional  and  personal  sacrifices  that
        confronted the terrorists. Yet behind                                                                 accompany the profession.
        the scenes, another group fought a                                                                       “The  film  shows  different  chal-
        quieter battle—one that unfolded in                                                                   lenges that the nurses go through.
        hospital corridors, emergency wards                                                                   One  of  them  is the  personal  life
        and operating rooms.                                                                                  challenge that my character faces.
            The  just-released  film  Bharat                                                                  She lives alone in Mumbai. After
        Bhhagya Viddhaata seeks to bring                                                                      the incident, everyone goes to their
        those forgotten heroes into public                                                                    families but Babita goes to an empty
        memory by focusing on the nurses,                                                                     house,” she said.
        ward boys and healthcare workers                                                                          The actors also spoke about
        of Mumbai’s Cama Hospital, whose     Kangana Ranaut speaks at the red carpet premier of the film “Bharat Bhagya Vidhata”    working with Ranaut, praising her
        courage and commitment helped                      at PVR ECX Chanakyapuri, in New Delhi (ANI)        professionalism and commitment to
        save hundreds of lives during one of                                                                  the role.
        India’s darkest nights.                                                                                   Smita Tambe, who previously
            Presented by PEN Studios in       She argued that nurses continue   minutes, it will be meaningful,” she   worked with Ranaut in Panga, de-
        association with Manikarnika Films,  to face stereotypes despite perform-  said.                      scribed her as fearless in the choic-
        Paramhans Creations, Eunoia Films   ing some of the most demanding and   The film also highlights the role   es she makes.”She has always been
        LLP  and Floating Rocks  Entertain-  essential responsibilities in health-  hospital staff played during the 26/11   so professional. I have always been
        ment Pvt. Ltd., Bharat Bhhagya    care. “They are underpaid, they are   attacks,  including  helping  investiga-  a  fan  of  hers...  The  courage,  the
        Viddhaata is inspired by real-life   overworked, and they are most sex-  tors identify terrorist Ajmal Kasab.  straightforwardness. I would like to
        incidents  that  unfolded  during  the   ualised,” she said, calling for greater   “People will be surprised to know   take that all my life,” Tambe said.
        Mumbai attacks.                   respect for frontline hospital workers.  that they were the key witnesses in   Girija Oak and Esha Dey
            Rather than celebrating con-      According  to  Ranaut,  the  film   identifying Ajmal Kasab. Even after   echoed  those  sentiments,  saying
        ventional  heroes,  the  film  shifts  at-  attempts to acknowledge an entire   everything they went through, they   Ranaut  brought authenticity  and
        tention to those who rarely receive   workforce whose contribution of-  stood by the country and showed re-  vulnerability to her portrayal. “She
        public recognition despite being   ten goes unnoticed. “When we think   markable courage,” Ranaut said.  brings the vulnerability in the char-
        indispensable to the healthcare sys-  about hospitals, we naturally think of   The supporting cast believes the   acter. She is a very original person.
        tem. It traces the journey of ordinary   doctors, and their contribution is im-  story  resonates  because  it  reflects   In  today’s  world,  it’s  difficult  to  be
        hospital workers who displayed ex-  mense. But why don’t we pause and   the lives of ordinary people placed   original because everyone follows a
        traordinary courage and helped save   think about the millions of workers   in extraordinary situations.  trend,” they said.
        more than 400 lives in the face of un-  who keep the system running every   Actor Smita Tambe said every   At a time when healthcare
        imaginable terror.                day?” she asked.                  nurse portrayed in the film represents   workers are often remembered only
            For lead actor Kangana Ranaut,    She added that nurses under-  a different personality within the   during moments of crisis, the film at-
        who portrays a staff nurse, the proj-  take countless responsibilities, from   profession.”Our characters are nurs-  tempts to restore long-overdue rec-
        ect is as much about changing public   caring for patients to ensuring hos-  es  of different natures. They  have   ognition to those who stood firm in
        perceptions as it is about recounting   pitals function smoothly.   very different and interesting per-  the face of terror. By placing nurses
        history. Ranaut said nursing remains   “We don’t give them the respect   sonalities. I am straight and stubborn.  and support staff at the centre of the
        one of society’s most misunderstood   they deserve. Nurses do a lot of im-  I am focused on my job,” she said.  narrative, it reminds audiences that
        professions. “We want to change   portant work, from cleaning patients   Girija Oak said the characters   history is not shaped only by those
        people’s emotions and perceptions,”  to ensuring the hospital functions   represent familiar faces found in   who carry weapons, but also by those
        she said. “I think it is the most sexu-  smoothly. If our perspective chang-  hospitals across the country.”We   who carry hope, compassion and an
        alised profession.”               es because of this film, even for a few   are representing those people who   unwavering sense of duty.


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