#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan: Virushka, Tendulkar, Anand Mahindra celebrate IAF pilot's return, call him India's real hero
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was handed over to Indian High Commission officials at Wagah border.

The pilot was handed over to Indian High Commission officials at Pakistan's Wagah border. He entered India after completing formalities, at around 9:20 pm on Friday.
With hundreds flocking to the Wagah border to catch a glimpse of the brave soldier, hashtags like #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan, #WelcomeBackAbhinandan, #Abhinandancomingback have taken over Twitter.
The King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan posted that he was eternally grateful that Abhinanadan was returning. Film-maker Karan Johar also tweeted, "We salute your bravery and valour....we applaud your strength in the face of adversity....#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan".
There is no better feeling than Coming back Home, for home is the place of love, hope & dreams. Ur bravery makes us… https://t.co/UrSav5A16d
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) 1551436872000We salute your bravery and valour....we applaud your strength in the face of adversity....#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) 1551420890000'Pari' actress Anushka Sharma wrote, "The entire nation welcomes you home Abhinandan. You are a true Hero."
The entire nation welcomes you home Abhinandan. You are a true Hero.
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) 1551448894000It’s midnight & I cannot sleep. I’m so happy that #AbhinandanVartaman is going to be coming home. I can only imagin… https://t.co/zAONWYehrV
— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) 1551427686000The sporting world too was welcomed India's hero back. Calling Wing Commander Abhinandan the real hero, Team India captain Virat Kohli, wrote, "Real Hero. I bow down to you. Jai Hind."
Real Hero. I bow down to you. Jai Hind https://t.co/kDgocwpclA
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) 1551457415000Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar also took to Twitter to applaud 'our hero', saying, "A hero is more than just four letters. Through his courage, selflessness and perseverance, OUR HERO teaches us to have faith in ourselves.
#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan. Jai Hind."
A hero is more than just four letters. Through his courage, selflessness and perseverance, OUR HERO teaches us to h… https://t.co/dPB1Qz1Iw5
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) 1551455518000While cricketer Mohammad Kaif said he was delighted, Indian shooter and Asian Games bronze medallist Heena Sidhu said it's not over yet.
#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan So proud of the dignity and grace with which you braved a difficult time. Delighted that you… https://t.co/kO5VMYdole
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) 1551443218000How proud we are to have you ! Bow down to your skills and even more your grit and courage #WelcomeBackAbhinandan… https://t.co/gJiYgLCdYK
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) 1551438242000Sending a POW back is not an act of descalation or a step towards peace as some stupid media people are saying. If… https://t.co/kXtaNS61ph
— Heena SIDHU (@HeenaSidhu10) 1551411938000Welcome back our hero ... #WingCommandarAbhinandan #IndianAirfoce
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) 1551437647000In my time alive on this planet, I haven’t seen a bigger hero. #WelcomeBackAbhinandan
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) 1551442933000India Inc also celebrated the IAF pilot's return.
वो कोई और चिराग होते हैं जो हवाओं से बुझ जाते हैं… हमने तो जलने का हुनर भी तूफ़ानों से सीखा है Welcome back Wing C… https://t.co/N4DlqvJVNo
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) 1551458502000Millions of people in India and across the world got a close look at the courage, composure, and commitment in ever… https://t.co/rOeH2QzlgT
— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) 1551445648000Salute her in every way - salute her brave son - pride n respect https://t.co/7O4kLjQGh4
— Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (@kiranshaw) 1551438897000Such a great day. A brave soldier will be returning home to his country and family. It's easy to call for war sitti… https://t.co/4aF24OOed7
— Nischal (WazirX) ⚡️ (@NischalShetty) 1551420863000While actor Ranveer Singh welcomed the pilot, actress-turned-businesswoman Preity Zinta took to twitter to salute him. Here are other celebrities who showed their excitement on social media.
Welcome home Abhinandan! आपकी वीरता सर आँखों पर! Inspiration to our whole nation . Jai Hind ✊
— Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) 1551444982000Everyone awaits your return . Proud of you sir !! Salutes to the brave son of india #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
— Emraan Hashmi (@emraanhashmi) 1551419068000Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeee!!!! #Abhinandancomingback https://t.co/xxFviVbjl3
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) 1551361030000#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan You are a real hero and we as a nation stand beside you, Thank you for your selfless service, Jai Hind
— Sidharth Malhotra (@SidMalhotra) 1551442654000There is no place like home. Love, respect and gratitude Wing Commander Abhinandan ❤️#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan… https://t.co/10ihgl4Znr
— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) 1551444699000Welcome Back Home Dear #Abhinanadan - we salute your courage, bravery & service to our nation. … https://t.co/pDPlLlKhYg
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) 1551437710000Welcome back home #WelcomeBackAbinandan a true hero. These humane actions give hope that all humanity is not lost. Bharat mata ki Jai
— Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) 1551438494000We salute your bravery and applaud your strength. #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
— Sunjay Kapur (@sunjaykapur) 1551444215000Thank you @ImranKhanPTI for the kind gesture and agreeing to release #abhinandanvarthman. This is a step towards pe… https://t.co/ZBPDwIegfm
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) 1551358923000Our hero is back home! #AbhinandanVarthaman deserves all our love, warmth and wishes for a speedy recovery.… https://t.co/P1MIVgyYw3
— Himansh Kohli (@himanshkohli) 1551444320000“I am not supposed to tell you that, sir.” #WelcomeHomeAbhinandan
— Madhav Sharma (@HashTagCricket) 1551442528000The 35-year-old pilot was captured by Pakistan on Wednesday after the MiG-21 Bison jet that he was flying crashed. Amid rising tensions between the two countries, Pakistan PM Imran Khan announced on Thursday that Abhinandan would be released as a 'Peace Gesture' by the Pakistan.
On Feb 26, India had conducted 'non-military, pre-emptive' air strikes targeting training camps run by terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan. The move took place following the tragic February 14 Pulwama attack that took the lives of over 40 CRPF jawans. JeM had in a video claimed responsibility for the attack.
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