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India.com

24-05-2025

Life in an army family is extremely different from that of ordinary civilians. They maintain strict discipline and routine every single day. Varlin Panwar, who rose to the rank of Squadron Leader in the Indian Air Force, grew up in such a family. Her father served in the armed forces.
Despite retiring from the Indian Air Force(IAF), Varlin Panwar didn't slow down. She began applying her knowledge and skills in varied fields, whether working in IPL, tech security, or training actors for films based on the Air Force. The Humans of Bombay took to Instagram to share her success story. After dedicating a decade to the Indian Air Force, Varlin Panwar is now playing a significant role in shaping India's perception of its armed forces, both on screen and beyond.
According to a Humans of Bombay post sharing Varlin Panwar's story, growing up with a father in the army meant frequently moving to different cities; a challenge that wasn't always easy. Yet, her parents did everything they could to provide a loving and stable home. On Sundays, Varlin Panwar and her father would go for a run together, and during those moments, her father's stories from his army days would light up his eyes, inspiring her to seek that same sense of purpose and excitement.
'Dad was in the army & was posted in different cities every few years. It was hard, but Mom & Dad did everything to make us feel comfortable. I remember Dad & I running every Sunday. He'd tell me about his time in the army – the excitement in his eyes made me want to feel that too,' the post read.
At 12, Varlin saw a passing out parade in Dehradun. Watching the cadets march with pride only strengthened her resolve. She decided to join the NCC as part of the 11th Girls Battalion in Dehradun after her Class 12th.
'So after my 12th, I decided to join the NCC as part of the 11th Girls Battalion in Dehradun. I was doing my graduation simultaneously. We marched in the rain, survived camps, & competed for best cadet – it was draining. Plus balancing both my NCC training & my studies was tough,' the post further read.
Varlin Panwar recalls days when she felt exhausted but pushed herself to keep going and eventually began to thrive. At 17, she even won several awards, including being named the Best Cadet at the National Level Camp. Later, during her graduation, she applied to both the Army and the Air Force. After clearing the exams, she joined the Air Force just a few weeks later. Soon, she was allotted the branch of a Fighter Controller.
Varlin Panwar recalls an important moment in 2018 at a frontline IAF base, where she was in charge of overseeing the Republic Day flypast. Just moments before takeoff, she spotted an unidentified object approaching from across the border. Thinking quickly, she ordered the aircraft to scramble, successfully neutralising the threat. She describes it as one of the toughest decisions she's ever had to make.
The post further mentioned, 'The day I got my uniform & badge, I couldn't hold back my tears. I called Papa who said, 'I'm proud of you, but don't just wear your rank, earn it.' And that's what I did. So no matter how much I felt like giving up, I didn't. I completed my training & was allotted the branch of a Fighter Controller. I remember in 2018, at a frontline IAF base, I was responsible for overseeing the Republic Day flypast. Just before takeoff, I detected an unidentified object approaching from across the border. Acting fast, I ordered our aircraft to scramble, & the object was neutralised. It was one of the toughest decisions I had to make.'
After serving in the Air Force for 10 years, Varlin Panwar retired in 2018. It wasn't an easy decision. '…I felt like I had more to give. So I worked in the IPL, tech security, & even consulted on films like Fighter to make sure the stories of people in uniform were shown right,' read her post.
Soon, she took on new challenges, working in IPL, tech security, and consulting on films like Fighter, helping ensure the stories of those in uniform were portrayed authentically.
In other words, she quickly found new ground in tech security with the IPL and later brought her expertise to the film industry, consulting on projects like Fighter , Operation Valentine , and Skyforce . Her mission was simple yet powerful—to make sure the stories of those in uniform were told with honesty and respect.
'Honestly that's what I'm most proud of, not just the big moments in uniform, but being able to guide young girls now, who dream big. So if there's one thing I've learned, it's that you don't need to be fearless to do something brave. You just need to believe in your purpose & take that first step,' she added.