Airlift is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language political thriller film directed by Raja Krishna Menon starring Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur, that follows Ranjit Katyal (played by Kumar), a Kuwait-based businessman as he carries out the evacuation of Indians based in Kuwait during the Invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein's Iraq which led to the beginning of the Gulf War.

[4] The plot is adapted from the real life story of a Kuwait-based Indian businessman Mathunny Mathews.

[5] Director Menon wrote the script after studying the whole incident of the war and the predicament of Indians based in Kuwait.

Ranjit and Nair, his driver, go out and drive to the Indian embassy in an attempt to take their family and leave Kuwait.

There he meets Iraqi Republican Guard officer Major Khalaf bin Zayd (Inaamulhaq), who reveals that he was the one who pulled up to the checkpoint earlier and prevented Ranjit from being harmed.

Ranjit convinces his friends to work together, and they set up a makeshift camp for some 500 Indians with Major Khalaf's permission.

However, Ranjit later receives news of the UN embargo which bars ships from entering or leaving Iraq, effectively crushing their hopes of getting out.

As the Indians leave Kuwait, Ranjit comes across yet another checkpoint where he encounters hostile Iraqi soldiers who, in absence of any passports or IDs, threaten to kill Amrita.

The film ends with Ranjit indicating that he always believed India never did anything for its citizens, but after being rescued by the country he and a lot of Indians had disowned, he may not ever say that in the future.

According to the director of the film, Raja Krishna Menon, he wrote the script after studying the whole incident of war and the predicament of Indians based in Kuwait.

[6] He then approached Akshay Kumar for the role of a character based on Mathunny Mathews,[7] the real life businessman who spearheaded the evacuation efforts named 'Ranjit Katyal', to which he agreed to act and produce under his banner of Hari Om Entertainment.

[11][12] The first schedule of the film was reportedly shot in Al-Hamra Palace Beach Resort in Ras Al Khaimah[13] and Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh in early March 2015.

From unknown names in the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi to people who had their Indianness rearing its head from within just when it was required, Airlift is un-miss-able.

"[55] Srijana Mitra Das from The Times of India gave the film 4 stars out of 5 praising its direction and wrote "Airlift has one of Akshay Kumar's best performances – along with other sterling acts.

"[56] Writing for NDTV, Saibal Chatterjee also gave it four stars and stated, "Airlift is a rare megastar vehicle that derives obvious benefits from the lead actor's magnetism without subjugating itself to the need to make the most of his presence in the cast.

Airlift is a film that every Indian, and every Bollywood buff despairing for genuinely high-quality storytelling, must watch.

"[58] Anupama Chopra from Hindustan Times rated the film three and a half stars out of five, and described it as "Akshay Kumar's finest hour" and wrote "Big props to Akshay for putting his heart and might behind such an unconventional project, and to director Raja Krishna Menon for showcasing a story that had been lost on the sidelines.

"[59] Ritika Handoo of Zee News also gave it three and half stars out of five and termed Akshay as the "hero" of this film.

The film shows how exactly the Indians in Kuwait were evacuated or rather 'airlifted' safely after Saddam Hussein led the Iraq war.

Akshay is the hero because he played a man, who in real life, stretch his boundaries for saving humanity.

Akshay's dedication and sincerity in portraying such roles with brilliance makes 'Airlift' have a safe landing even at the box office windows.

"[61] Rajeev Masand from CNN-IBN gave the film three and half stars, saying "The occasional speed bumps aside, there are many moments that soar.

"[62] Arkadev Ghoshal of IBTimes India gave it three and half stars and stated, "Airlift" is probably a good release for the weekend preceding Republic Day, when patriotic sentiments are high.

"[63] Sukanya Verma of Rediff also gave it three and half stars and termed the film as "taut, tense, terrific" and summarised, "Oh what a beauty Akshay's performance is.

"[67] Subhash K. Jha of SKJBollywoodNews also gave the film four and half stars and stated, "Airlift is first and foremost a heart-stopping thriller.