Sonam Kapoor to play Neerja Bhanot

Ad filmmaker Ram Madhwani is all set to direct his second feature film, after 2002's Let's Talk. He was to do a desi remake of Danish series Pinoza with Kajol in the lead. The project fell apart when Kads backed out. He's now working on a film based on Neerja Bhanot, a valiant flight attendant who saved lives during a hijacking on her plane in 1986.

Says Ram, "Let me clarify that I haven't shelved the other project. The logistics weren't working out. So while that project falls into place, I decided to go ahead with this one that I had been scripting for a year-and-a-half."

Neerja, says Ram Madhvani, is a portrait of courage during adversity. "Hers is a story that needs to be told and told with dignity and restraint. When I closed my eyes and thought of Neerja, Sonam Kapoor came to my mind."

Ram confesses he has liked Sonam's work from the start. "I've been Sonam's fan since Saawariya. She is just the right fit for Neerja Bhanot's role."

WHO'S NEERJA BHANOT?
Mumbai girl Neerja was born in Chandigarh, she was a flight attendant for PanAm, but was based in Mumbai. She was killed while saving passengers from terrorists on board the hijacked PanAm Flight 73 in Karachi on September 5, 1986. Posthumously, she became the youngest recipient of India's highest civilian award for bravery, the Ashok Chakra.