Sonam Kapoor’s Neerja: Filmmakers spend Rs 3 crore on research

Sources have told Hindustan Times that the filmmakers of Sonam Kapoor-starrer Neerja have spent Rs 3 crore on the research for the biopic on Neerja Bhanot, who lost her life while saving many others on a hijacked plane.

We have heard of filmmakers setting aside huge budgets for exotic locations, high-octane action sequences, or even to hire international technicians for their projects. But the makers of actor Sonam Kapoor’s next set aside a huge amount of the production budget solely for the purpose of research. We have been told that the money spent came close to 3 crore. An insider says, “Being a biopic, and that too of a heroic 23-year-old girl (Neerja Bhanot, who lost her life while saving many others on a hijacked plane), the makers were sure that they wanted to portray all the events in her life with utmost authenticity. Hence, there was a huge budget that was set aside for research.”

Sonam Kapoor in a still from Neerja Bhanot biopic. (Twitter)

Apparently, the makers made a 15-member team that travelled extensively around India, and also to countries like Pakistan, USA and Libya, to trace the people who were on board the flight, which was hijacked in 1986. “The makers wanted to get a first-hand account of what these people witnessed on the flight. Their purpose was to make the film look as real as possible,” says the source.

Aneesh Bhanot, Sonam Kapoor and Akhil Bhanot during the trailer launch of film Neerja in Mumbai on December 17, 2015. (IANS)

The team stayed in each country for days at a stretch to get all the required information. They also spent a fair amount of money getting their hands on certain documents that were needed for the film.

Read: Neerja has the promise of a gripping tale