She wasn't yet 23 when she sacrificed her life to save a group of American children aboard a Pan Am flight that had been hijacked on the ground at Karachi airport. Neerja Bhanot is now being immortalised in a biopic that her family says honours her memory.
Neerja was working with American airline, Pan Am as an air hostess, besides being a successful model who featured in several television commercials.
on 5 September 1986, Pan Am flight 73 was hijacked. The pilot and co-pilot having left the aircraft after Neerja alerted them about the hijack, she was the senior most crew member.
Neerja, demonstrating exceptional bravery and presence of mind, saved lives of many passengers from the hijackers who were looking to target American citizens.
Neerja hid passports of American citizens so that the hijackers couldn't identify them. Towards the end of the 17-hour-long hijacking drama, she physically shielded three American children from the bullets of Klashnikov rifles of the hijackers.
Aneesh Bhanot, Neerja's elder brother says several producers had offered to produce a film about her. But, the family was reluctant. However, this time they agreed due to the honest intentions of the producers.
"We are absolutely confident that the producers will do a very good job. The whole family is very satisfied with the script and the way Neerja's life is being shown. They have done thorough research on Neerja."
The hijack, which lasted some 17 hours, had left 20 people dead and 150 others injured.
Following her act of bravery, Neerja was posthumously conferred the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award, in 1987, the youngest and first woman recipient of the medal. A social organisation awarded her Tamga-e-Insaniyat in recognition of her selfless sacrifice.