Akshay Kumar and Veer Pahariya`s film Sky Force brought the story of an unheard hero, Squadron Leader AB Devayya, to the forefront, showing the tale of his bravery on the big screen. But they did not just stop there. The two actors went beyond the screen to make a real-world impact. Notably, AB Devayya was the only Indian Air Force officer to be posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra. Now, Akshay and Veer have helped in recovering Devayya’s stolen Mahavir Chakra medal.
Veer and Akshay help get AB Devayya`s Mahavir Chakra back
During the filming of the movie, Veer Pahariya developed a close relationship with the Devayya family. While interacting with the family, he and Akshay Kumar got to know about the missing medal, which had been stolen years ago from the family`s home. The loss had deeply impacted the family, especially Devayya’s wife, Sundari, claims his daughter Preetha Devayya.
Sharing a long post on Instagram, she mentioned, “For Mum, the medal was a symbol of my Dad`s courage and had held a place of pride on her dresser. Before the film was released, Veer, who portrayed the role of Squadron Leader AB Devayya, met the family. Upon discovering this, the two actors decided to personally take on the mission to retrieve the medal. “He, along with Akshay, took the matter upon themselves to get the precious medal back,” Preetha added.
Medal handed over
A special ceremony was held at the Indian Air Force Training Command in Bengaluru, where the medal was finally returned to the family. Sundari Devayya was handed over the medal by Air Marshal Tejinder Singh AVSM VM. Preetha said, “The Mahavir Chakra is back home,” calling the event “a very special moment for our family.”
She added, “She (mother) is so touched, so emotional. She keeps saying she finally feels complete. After all these years, there`s peace in her heart.”
Reflecting on the experience, Veer Pahariya stated, “This is why I chose to be an actor… to spread love, make a difference, and leave a little bit of myself behind in every story.”
