Filmmaker Siddharth Anand, known for directing Fighter, shared a cryptic message on X (formerly Twitter), which many believe to be a subtle dig at Akshay Kumar’s latest film, Sky Force. In his post, Anand wrote, “Hahahaha!! Insecurity hits new lows! I feel so important today! Have faith in yourself! Come on, yo!! An old saying – blowing out other candles won’t make yours burn brighter! But alas…”.
Although Anand did not mention any specific film or individual, netizens quickly assumed that his remarks were targeted at ‘’Sky Force” which was released on January 24, 2025. Both ‘’Fighter’’ and ‘’SKy Force’’ revolve around the Indian Air Force, resulting in inevitable similarities. Some social media users pointed out that Anand’s comment was in response to reviews of ‘’Sky Force’’ against ‘’Fighter’’. Other user highlighted, ‘’After viewing the trailer, just felt like a copy of Ajay Devgan’s Bhuj and Hrithik’s Fighter!’’
The audience gave a mixed reaction to Anand’s post. Some called it as an unnecessary critique whereas others underlined the competitive nature of Bollywood where multiple movies are made on similar topics. A comment read, ‘’Comparison is bound to happen as the two movies deal with similar backgrounds. If one movie gets more compliments than other then one should have a big heart and appreciate it. Why be insecure?’’.
‘’Sky Force’’ stars Akshay Kumar and Veer Pahariya in the main role and is based on India’s 1965 airstrike on Pakistan’s Sargodha air base. The movie aims to show light on this crucial moment in India’s history. On the contrary, ‘’Fighter’’ features Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor in lead roles. This film portrays a fictionalized rescue mission and was declared a box office success.
As both films showcase the valor of the Indian Air Force, discussions and comparisons are bound to take place among audiences and the filmmaker.