Pallavi Joshi says she plays a 'superhero' in The Vaccine War: My chest swells with pride

Actor-producer Pallavi Joshi, who is gearing up for the release of the bio-science thriller The Vaccine War, recently opened up about her perspective on the unique theme of the film. Speaking with the news agency ANI, Joshi said The Vaccine War "is perhaps the nicest movie" she's done as a producer "mainly because it deals with so much of women scientists." 

3 things you need to know

• Pallavi Joshi has extensively worked as a child artist across 19 films, starting in 1973.
• She is a three-time National Film Award recipient, with two of the wins being for her work with her husband, director Vivek Agnihotri.
• Joshi has co-produced The Vaccine War.

Pallavi Joshi says The Vaccine War is an important story to share

Speaking to ANI, the actress revealed how she considers The Vaccine War to be one of the strongest films she has produced. She shared how at the time of commencing research for the project, the team was unaware of just how many women scientists India had. Citing the example of Chandrayaan-3, she said, "This movie is perhaps the nicest movie I have done as a producer mainly because it deals with so much of women scientists. None of us knew when we started with the research that the field of science in India is so full of women. Recently we also saw the Chandrayaan landing on the moon and you could see all the rocket scientists wearing their kanjivarams, with their gajras. Similarly, here, all the bioscientists are all women."

(The Vaccine War marks Vivek Agnihotri and Pallavi Joshi's third collaboration | Image: pallavijoshiofficial/Instagram)

The three-time National Award winner further elaborated how playing a woman scientist in this film telling the story of India's journey to make their own vaccine was a matter of great pride for her - akin to playing a superhero. She said, "Their story was important for me to tell as a woman and to have acted as one of these scientists, it makes my chest swell with pride. I call this a superhero film where I got the opportunity to play a superhero."

The Vaccine War -  A tribute to the medical fraternity and scientists

The makers of the upcoming film recently hosted a special screening of the film in the USA under the India for Humanity Tour where the Indian Americans applauded the movie and described it as an eye-opener to the accomplishments of Indian scientists, in particular women, for helping a country of 1.4 billion people successfully combat COVID-19 under extreme circumstances, as per a PTI report.

The Vaccine War is about Indian scientists successfully developing a vaccine for COVID-19 under extreme circumstances and obstructions posed by certain foreign players. The film pays tribute to the dedication of the medical fraternity and scientists during the uncertain times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Helmed by Vivek Agnihotri, the film stars Nana Patekar, Anupam Kher and Pallavi Joshi in the lead roles. It is slated for a theatrical release on September 28.