‘My Ancestors Fought With Rani Lakshmi Bai’: KBC Promo Features Colonel Sofiya Qureshi Sharing Family History
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and Commander Prerna Deosthalee will appear on the Independence Day special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
Colonel Qureshi, who stood alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during the media briefing after India’s airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, revealed in the upcoming episode that her lineage traces back to the fighters who stood with Rani Lakshmi Bai.
“I belong to a family where everyone served in the Army. My great-grandmother’s ancestors fought with Rani Lakshmi Bai,” she told Bachchan during the show’s promo.
“I never heard lullabies; I grew up listening to tales of bravery and lessons on the meaning of courage,” she added.
Revisiting Operation Sindoor
In an earlier promo released by Sony TV, the three officers recounted their roles in Operation Sindoor, launched after terrorists attacked tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
Colonel Qureshi explained why striking across the border became necessary:
“Pakistan had been repeating such acts, so it was necessary to respond. That’s why Operation Sindoor was planned. This is a new India, with a new way of thinking.”
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh added, “From 1:05 am to 1:30 am, the mission was completed in just 25 minutes.”
Commander Prerna Deosthalee said, “The targets were destroyed, and no civilians were harmed.”
The promo ended with Bachchan chanting “Bharat Mata Ki” and the audience responding with “Jai.”
Political Row Over Appearance
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised the officers’ participation on a private entertainment channel, questioning the mix of patriotism and commercial entertainment.
In a post on X, she pointed out that the channel’s parent company, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), also owns broadcasting rights for the Asia Cup till 2031 — including matches between India and Pakistan.
“Our heroic women in uniform who became the face of Operation Sindoor have been invited by a private entertainment channel… Now join the dots,” she wrote, suggesting a contradiction between promoting patriotism and profiting from cricket clashes with Pakistan.
Who Are These Officers?
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh were the key spokespersons during media briefings on Operation Sindoor. The May 7 operation destroyed multiple terrorist camps inside Pakistan in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, sparking a four-day military clash between India and Pakistan that ended with a ceasefire on May 10. India targeted nine separate terror bases as part of the strike.
