✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Gunjan Saxena

Gunjan Saxena biographyFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Celebrities

Gunjan Saxena Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1975

Age45 Years

ProfessionIndian Air Force personnel (former helicopter pilot)

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

FamilyFather: Anup Saxena (Indian Army); Brother: Anshuman Saxena (Indian Army); Daughter: Pragya (born 2004)

Gunjan Saxena Biography

Gunjan Saxena is a former Indian Air Force helicopter pilot best known as one of the first women officers to fly in a combat zone during the 1999 KargilWar

Early life and background

Gunjan Saxena was born in 1975 into a family with a strong military tradition. Her father, Anup Saxena, and her brother, Anshuman Saxena, both served in the Indian Army, and that upbringing shaped her early ambitions. After finishing school she moved to Delhi to pursue a graduate degree at Hansraj College, University of Delhi. While a student she also trained at the Safdarjung Flying Club in New Delhi to learn the basics of flying.

Career

In 1994 Saxena was selected as part of a pioneering group of 25 young women who became the first batch of trainee pilots in the Indian Air Force. Her first posting was to Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, where she and other early women officers experienced the practical challenges of integrating women into units that had not previously been configured for female personnel.

Saxena flew Cheetah helicopters and took part in operational missions during the 1999 Kargil War. Operating in difficult mountainous terrain, her duties included casualty evacuation, supply missions, and reconnaissance. Alongside fellow pilot Srividya Rajan, she completed sorties that involved extracting wounded soldiers and locating enemy positions, becoming the first woman pilot from the IAF to fly in that conflict.

For her service during Operation Vijay she was awarded the Shaurya Chakra, an Indian gallantry decoration presented for bravery and self-sacrifice when not engaged in direct combat. Saxena served as a short service commissioned officer for seven years; her flying tenure concluded in July 2004.

Public profile

Gunjan Saxena has often been referred to in media as the "Kargil Girl" in recognition of her role during the Kargil War. After leaving the IAF she focused on family life and is described as living in Jamnagar, Gujarat, with her husband, who is also an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter pilot, and their children. Her daughter Pragya was born in 2004. Publicly noted personal interests include reading and exploring new places.

Latest updates

Saxena’s wartime role and pioneering status were later the subject of wider public attention. In 2018 a film project based on her life was announced, with actress Janhvi Kapoor attached to portray her in the untitled biopic.

Physical and other details

Saxena’s listed height is 1.64 m (5'4.57"). Her eyes and hair are described as black. She completed her higher education at Hansraj College and is identified as a graduate. Nationality is Indian.

Legacy

As one of the first women to fly operational sorties for the Indian Air Force in a contested environment, Saxena is remembered for helping expand the role of women in Indian military aviation. Her Shaurya Chakra recognition and service during the Kargil conflict form the core of her public legacy.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Gunjan Saxena, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
◈

Recent Work

Untitled biopic (subject)

Film project announced in 2018 with Janhvi Kapoor attached to portray Gunjan Saxena

2018
✦

Career Highlights

  1. Selected in 1994 as part of the first batch of 25 women IAF trainee pilots
  2. First IAF woman pilot to fly operationally during the 1999 Kargil War
  3. Awarded the Shaurya Chakra for service during Operation Vijay
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Gunjan Saxena born?

1975

What is Gunjan Saxena known for?

Indian Air Force personnel (former helicopter pilot)

What is Gunjan Saxena’s marital status?

Married