As Akshay Kumar and Veer Pahariya’s much-anticipated film ‘Sky Force‘ hits theatres nationwide today, January 24, a cryptic post by ‘Fighter’ director Siddharth Anand is raising eyebrows.
A day before the release of the action flick, the director took to his X handle to tweet a rather cryptic post on “insecurity”. Though Anand’s post did not have any mention of the film or the actors, it’s timing led many to believe that it was a veiled dig at team ‘Sky Force’ amidst comparisons.
In a tweet, Siddharth wrote, “Hahahaha!! Insecurity hits new lows! I feel so important today! Have faith in your own self! Come on, yo!! An old saying – Blowing off another candle won’t make yours burn brighter! But alas…”
Ahead of the film’s release, social media users have been drawing parallels between the overlapping themes of the two films. While one was a fictionalised movie, the other is said to be inspired by a true story. Akshay Kumar, who plays a leading role in ‘Sky Force’, wrote in an Instagram post, “I’ve been a part of over 150 films, but there’s something uniquely powerful about the words ‘based on a true story’. And to top it off, stepping into the uniform of an Air Force officer has been nothing short of incredible. ‘Sky Force’ is an untold story of honour, courage and patriotism that deserves to be shared. Watch it in cinemas starting tomorrow.”
Twitter users speculated that Siddharth’s remarks were aimed at the new film. One tweeted, “Who will win the final battle? Fighter or Sky Force? Let’s wait for the lifetime box office numbers.”
Another asked, “Why are you reacting to it? Feeling insecure? It’s a different movie, different releases in a different year. Let it be whatever it does. You made a movie with 400 Cr. This one is made for free ( they say the budget is 80 Cr whereas Akshay Kumar alone charges 100 Cr).”
Another tweeted, “There’s bound to be a comparison when two movies come with the same background. If one movie gets a better review, have a big heart and appreciate it. Why be insecure. P.S – Fighter was the best movie of 2024.”
Still another said, “Once a section used to compare with TopGun Maverick, now it’s compared with #Fighter ..benchmark has already been set, just enjoy the success.”
Siddharth Anand’s Fighter, starring Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor in lead roles, received mixed reviews but went on to become a box-office success, grossing over Rs 358 crore worldwide.
Sky Force, on the other hand, is set against the backdrop of the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, and chronicles India’s first retaliatory airstrike, which not only shifted the course of the war but also cemented the Indian Air Force’s place in history. Directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, the movie also stars Nimrat Kaur and Sara Ali Khan.
