Actors Akshay Kumar and Veer Pahariya recently made a meaningful impact beyond their film, Sky Force, which tells the inspiring story of Squadron Leader AB Devayya. Devayya was the only Indian Air Force officer who received the Mahavir Chakra posthumously, a significant military honor.
Moved by this story, Akshay and Veer helped to recover Devayya’s stolen Mahavir Chakra medal. During the film’s production, Veer formed a bond with Devayya’s family and discovered that the family’s prized medal had been taken from their home years ago. This loss had deeply affected the family, especially Devayya’s wife, Sundari.
Preetha Devayya, Devayya’s daughter, shared, "For my mom, the medal was a symbol of my dad’s bravery and held a special place on her dresser." Upon learning about this during filming, Akshay and Veer made it their mission to retrieve the lost medal.
Recently, the medal was returned to the Devayya family in a heartfelt ceremony at the Indian Air Force Training Command in Bengaluru, where Air Marshal Tejinder Singh officially handed it back to Sundari Devayya.
Preetha expressed the family’s joy on Instagram, stating, "The Mahavir Chakra is back home," describing the moment as "very special." She mentioned that her mother was deeply emotional, feeling a sense of peace after years of loss.
Veer reflected on the experience, saying, "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."
Through their film and this powerful act of kindness, Sky Force has become more than just a movie; it has helped restore an important piece of the Devayya family’s legacy.
