‘Real Heroes’, Saluting Our Seniors An Original Sony LIV Series Honoring India's Armed Forces Veterans and Freedom Fighters

Sony LIV proudly announces the launch of Real Heroes, an eight-part original docuseries that brings to life the powerful personal stories of India’s freedom fighters and armed forces veterans. Directed by Anirban Bhattacharyya, it is streaming exclusively on Sony LIV’s YouTube channel. The series is a moving tribute to the generations of Indians who have devoted their lives to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and values.

Real Heroes marks a significant step in Gen S Life’s broader mission to honour, amplify and preserve the voices of India’s senior citizens. By capturing the memories of these national icons, the series serves not just as documentation but as legacy-preserving stories that have remained unheard or under-celebrated for too long. From the snow-covered silence of Siachen to the historic resistance of the freedom movement, these narratives offer intimate insights into the human cost of service, courage and conviction. The series is an absolute eye-opener with the veterans revealing never-before-heard first-hand experiences of some of the biggest military operations.

Among the featured voices is Lt Gen Sanjay Kulkarni PVSM, AVSM, SC, SM, VSM (Retd), a veteran of Operation Meghdoot (1984), and a war-hero, reflecting on the life-threatening conditions he faced, shared, “Siachen is not a place you conquer; it is a place that tests your will to survive. We went there not just to hold ground but to uphold India’s honour in the harshest climate on earth. Here Great Courage and Fortitude is the Norm.”

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Col. DPK Pillay (Shaurya Chakra), from Kannur, Kerala, recalled his time in Manipur in 1994, “In the chaos of battle in Manipur, I learned that true soldiering means saving lives, not taking them. Wounded in Operation Rakshak, I gave up my evacuation for two injured children. The villagers’ gratitude stayed with me—and years later, they called me back, not with bitterness, but with honor. In their resilience, I saw that even in war, humanity speaks without words, and gratitude never fades.”

Hailing from Punjab, Col. Jasbir Singh, who was grievously injured during the Indo-Pak war in Operation Cactus-Lily (1971), spoke with clarity and strength. “When I stepped on a mine and lost my foot, I knew my life would change. But I did not lose my purpose. That war taught me to live with honour, no matter the cost”.

Dr. G.G. Parikh, a 101-year-old freedom fighter from Mumbai, who was jailed for 10 months during the Quit India movement remembered the underground resistance during British rule. “We fought without weapons, but with a relentless spirit. We were imprisoned, but never silenced. Freedom was earned by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. And today, I fear we have forgotten the quiet strength of civil disobedience, of selflessness. That’s why I speak—to remember, and to remind.”

Brig. Shamsher Singh (AVSM), who fought in the Battle of Haji Pir (1965), spoke of the mountainous terrain and his unit’s bravery,“The Haji Pir pass wasn’t just terrain—it was an identity, a cause. We were told to expect 100% casualty and we were prepared to die!”

Gour Hari Das, from Odisha, who was blessed by Mahatma Gandhi, spent decades trying to prove his identity as a freedom fighter after Independence. “I fought to free India before 1947, and I fought bureaucracy after. Both battles demanded patience and faith. I only ever wanted to be acknowledged as a freedom fighter.”

Recalling the 1971 Battle of Basantar, Lt. Col. B.T. Pandit (PVSM, VRC), a decorated veteran from Pune Maharashtra, shared, “I was sitting on the top of the tank and riding towards the enemy. I could hear the enemy bullets ricocheting off the tank. On the battlefield, you don’t think of your life—you think of your nation.”

From Mumbai, Commodore Medioma Bhada, a naval pilot who took part in an operation to bomb Chittagong in 1971, vividly remembers taking off in his Sea Hawk aircraft from INS Vikrant and heading towards the target, “I was full of adrenaline. We were under strict radio silence, flying low over enemy harbours, knowing we might not return. But in uniform, fear takes a back seat to duty. We were young men flying into enemy fire and our brief was clear - destroy the targets at any cost.”

Reflecting on the significance of the series, Meenakshi Menon, Founder of Gen S Life, said, “This initiative aligns with Gen S Life’s core mission—to serve and celebrate India’s senior citizens. These stories are a powerful reminder that history lives in people. By honouring their voices, we are not only remembering the past but investing in a more grateful future.”

Anirban Bhattacharyya, bestselling author and the director-producer of Real Heroes, added, “Real Heroes has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. These are not just stories; they are legacies, lived and carried by men who gave a part of themselves for India. We owe it to our future generations to document this living history while we still can. This series is our way of saluting the spirit, courage, and integrity of India’s true legends.”

Lt. Gen (Retd) Sanjay Kulkarni cited the series to be, “An endeavour to motivate the present generation with deeds of yesteryears which have geo strategic reverberations for our future generations,  I compliment and laud this great initiative of Gen S Life for honouring our great soldiers for whom Naam Namak Nishan is a call worth sacrificing their lives for the Nation. Jai Hind.”

Real Heroes is more than a tribute—it is a bridge between generations. Through unfiltered voices and lived experiences, the series reminds us that the courage of our seniors is not just part of our past, but a legacy that continues to shape who we are as a nation. Their stories deserve to be heard, remembered, and passed on.