Filmmaker JP Dutta is all set for the release of his third war drama, Paltan, this September. The film, based on the Nathu La military clashes of 1967, showcases the untold story of the Indian army facing off against Chinese infiltrators at the Sikkim border.
Touted to be one of the biggest Indian war movies of all time, Paltan has been shot in Ladakh over a period of 56 days, the longest ever shoot in the region. During the coldest of times, night time temperatures hovered around -20 degrees Celsius.
Talking about the trying schedule, Dutta says, “We started shooting in Ladakh in October, the time of the year when the place is usually shut for tourists. We had to get special permissions to shoot during those months. The entire city was closed, but a few locals kept their hotels open for us. We had to finish shooting all the war sequences in 56 days.”
“It was one of my most difficult shoots because of the weather. There is a lack of oxygen at higher altitudes, and it becomes tough to shoot when you’re feeling breathless. My actors had to do some extensive action sequences under those conditions. And I am glad that the entire cast and crew were so supportive. To keep themselves fit, the actors would run 4 km in sub-zero temperatures every day. They were all driven by passion, as if they were fighting a real war,” the proud filmmaker adds.
The intense war drama boasts an ensemble cast consisting of Arjun Rampal, Sonu Sood, Gurmeet Choudhary and Harshvardhan Rane. With power-packed performances, the film promises to tell a riveting tale of the bravest of Indian soldiers.
