Akshay, Veer And The Stolen Mahavir Chakra

The
Akshay
Kumar
and
Veer
Pahariya-starrer

Sky
Force
tells
the
story
of
Squadron
Leader
A
B
Devayya,
the
only
Indian
Air
Force
officer
to
be
posthumously
awarded
the
Mahavir
Chakra.

During
the
making
of
the
film,
the
actors
formed
a
close
bond
with
the
Devayya
family.

They
also
played
a
key
role
in
helping
them
recover
the
stolen
Mahavir
Chakra
medal.

Squadron
Leader
Devayya
was
posthumously
awarded
India’s
second-highest
gallantry
honour
for
his
bravery
and
sacrifice
in
the
1965
War.

But
a
few
years
ago,
the
medal
was
stolen
from
the
family’s
home.

For
Sundari
Devayya,
the
late
officer’s
wife,
the
medal
was
not
just
an
award.
It
was
a
cherished
symbol
of
courage,
sacrifice,
and
memory.

‘For
Mum,
the
medal
was
a
symbol
of
my
Dad’s
courage
and
had
held
a
place
of
pride
on
her
dresser,’
wrote
Preetha
Devayya,
Squadron
Leader’s
daughter,
as
shared
in
a
press
note
by
the
family.

During
the
making
of

Sky
Force,
Veer
Pahariya
met
the
Devayya
family,
and
that’s
when
he
learnt
about
the
stolen
Mahavir
Chakra.

He,
along
with
Akshay
Kumar,
took
the
matter
‘upon
themselves
to
get
the
precious
medal
back,’
added
Preetha
Devayya.

In
a
surprising
turn
of
events,
the
medal
was
restored
and
handed
back
to
Sundari
Devayya
at
a
ceremony
hosted
by
the
Indian
Air
Force
at
the
Training
Command
in
Bengaluru.

Air
Marshal
Tejinder
Singh,
AVSM,
VM,
presented
the
honour.

‘The
Mahavir
Chakra
is
back
home,’
Preetha
wrote
in
her
post,
calling
it
‘a
very
special
moment
for
our
family.’

Describing
the
emotional
moment,
Preetha
said,
‘She
(her
mother)
is
so
touched,
so
emotional.
She
keeps
saying
she
finally
feels
complete.
After
all
these
years,
there’s
peace
in
her
heart.’

Reflecting
on
the
moment,
Veer
Pahariya
shared:
‘This
is
why
I
chose
to
be
an
actor…
to
spread
love,
make
a
difference,
and
leave
a
little
bit
of
myself
behind
in
every
story.’