Who was Major Mohit Sharma, why his family claimed Dhurandhar is based on him

His parents approached the Delhi High Court against Dhurandhar, scheduled for release on December 5, seeking protection of their son’s legacy and persona. They also wanted the film privately screened for the family before its release.
Filmmaker Aditya Dhar has said the movie is fictional and not based on the Major’s life. The censor board on Tuesday (December 2) gave its go-ahead to the movie.
Who was Major Mohit Sharma, what did he win his gallantry award for, and what are his family’s objections to Dhurandhar?
Who was Major Mohit Sharma?
Major Mohit Sharma was a Special Forces (SF) officer. Before the Ashok Chakra, he had been awarded a Sena Medal for gallantry, for infiltrating a terrorist group in J&K and killing two militants.
Born in Rohtak in 1978, Major Mohit Sharma joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 1995. He was commissioned in December 1999 in the 5th Battalion of The Madras Regiment after passing out from Indian Military Academy (IMA).
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After a stint in J&K in Rashtriya Rifles, Major Sharma volunteered to join the Special Forces. After training and probation, he finally joined 1 Parachute Battalion (Special Forces). It was during his tenure with this battalion that he earned the Sena Medal for gallantry. He is said to have successfully infiltrated a Hizbul Mujahideen group under cover in 2004.
In 2009, Major Sharma was again deployed with a Special Forces unit in Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir. He took part in an action in which several militants were killed, but in the process he was grievously injured and lost his life.
For acts of bravery beyond the call of duty, Major Mohit Sharma was awarded the Ashok Chakra posthumously.
Why is Dhurandhar being linked to Major Mohit Sharma?
The family members of Major Mohit Sharma have alleged that Ranveer Singh’s character is based on him. This character infiltrates a terrorist network in Pakistan and destroys it. They have stated that no permission was sought from the family before using the story and actions of Major Sharma in the movie.
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On social media, speculation has been rife that various other characters in the movie are also based on real-life persons. Sanjay Dutt is supposed to be playing Chaudhary Aslam Khan Swati, an ‘encounter specialist’ of the Karachi police, who was killed in a bomb blast carried out by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2014.
Akshaye Khanna’s character is also said to be based on Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch, a well-known criminal based out of Karachi’s Lyari locality who was killed in 2009. Another character allegedly resembles National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, a former intelligence officer.
What happened in court?
The petition came up for hearing on December 1. The plea said that ‘Dhurandhar is being publicly promoted with a view to create a perception that it is based upon the life, persona and operations of Major Mohit Sharma. It was alleged that the same is being done without any consent, consultation or authorisation from the family.
The director, screenwriter and co-producer of the movie vehemently denied that the film is being promoted as having been inspired by Major Sharma’s life. It was stated that the film is purely a work of fiction and though inspired by true events, bears no connection with the Major.
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The petition was disposed of by the court with the following directions:
(i) The Central Board of Film Certification shall consider all relevant aspects of the matter, including the concerns articulated by the petitioners, before granting requisite certification for the release of the film.
(ii) If considered apposite, the censor board will refer the matter to the authorities concerned of the Indian Army before taking a final decision.