MUMBAI: This weekend on Indian Idol, the celebration of 25 glorious years of Farhan Akhtar took an emotional turn when contestant Shreenidhi performed a stirring song from Farhan’s film Lakshya. The performance opened a heartfelt moment on stage, prompting Farhan to share the true inspiration behind creating one of his most impactful films.
As the applause faded, Badshah turned to Farhan with a thoughtful question: “Did you make this film only because of its entertainment value? Or was it also driven by the feeling that you wanted to do something for the?”
Farhan’s response left the entire studio silent and moved. He began, “There are two aspects to this question. Patriotism is something we are all born with. When you watch your parents — the work they do, the way they love their country — it becomes a part of you. And I believe patriotism is something you don’t need to shout about. It’s a feeling with which you live your life honestly and with hard work — for your country.” He then shared an important piece of history that shaped the film. “This film was made around the time Operation Vijay happened in 1999. My father went to Kargil in 2001. There is a memorial there for the soldiers. An officer told him, ‘People are praising the Indian Army for achieving the impossible in these mountains.’ And it’s true — very few armies in the world can do what they did.”
But what followed is what sparked the story of Lakshya. “The officer also said something sad: 'Every year, fewer young people apply to become officers. It no longer feels like a viable career option to them.' He shared this with my father, and my father told him, ‘I want to write a story to inspire young people to join the Indian Army.’ That’s how this story was written.”
Farhan said that Lakshya shaped the way he approached cinema thereafter. “After that experience, whatever choices I made — whether Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, or now 120 Bahadur — I felt cinema has the power to send a message: respect your freedom. Love it. And never forget the price at which it came.”
With Shreenidhi’s performance setting the emotional stage, Farhan’s revelation gave viewers a rare glimpse into the heart of a filmmaker who believes that cinema can inspire a nation. For the first time on the Indian Idol stage, we discovered the true inspiration behind the making of this film — a revelation that beautifully echoes the spirit of Indian Idol Season 16, where every voice carries a journey, a purpose, and an unshakable junoon.
Tune in to the new season of Indian Idol, every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 PM on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.
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