Who Is Abhinandan Varthaman? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Abhinandan Varthaman was born on June 21, 1983, making him 41 years old as of 2025. He is a distinguished Indian Air Force pilot who gained international fame during the 2019 India-Pakistan standoff. Varthaman has become a symbol of bravery and courage, earning accolades for his heroism during aerial combat. With a sturdy career record and dedication to his service, Varthaman is celebrated not just as a pilot, but as a national hero.
| Occupation | Pilot |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 21, 1983 |
| Age | 42 Years |
| Birth Place | Tamil Nadu, India |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | India |
Popularity
Abhinandan Varthaman's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Abhinandan Varthaman stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) and weighs about 70 kg (154 lbs). His athletic build is a testament to his rigorous training as a fighter pilot, combined with a disciplined lifestyle that maintains his fitness and readiness for duty.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Abhinandan is married to his wife, Tanvi Varthaman. Together, they have navigated the public spotlight, especially following his return to India after his capture in 2019. The couple has two children. The family maintains a relatively low profile and prefers to stay away from the limelight, focusing on their private lives amid Abhinandan's public duties.
His family is from Thirupanamoor, a village about 19 km from Kanchipuram. His father, Simhakutty Varthaman is retired Air Marshal, and his mother is a doctor.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Abhinandan Varthaman’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million. His compensation as an Indian Air Force pilot is supplemented by various endorsements and public appearances, which have significantly contributed to his earnings. While the details of his salary are not publicly disclosed, it reflects the standard pay scale for high-ranking officers in the Indian military.
Career, Business and Investments
Abhinandan Varthaman has had a distinguished military career in the Indian Air Force since he joined as a fighter pilot. His heroics during the 2019 aerial engagement with Pakistan elevated his status, leading to opportunities in motivational speaking and media engagements. Though primarily focused on his military service, Varthaman has remained open to potential investments and collaborations that align with his values and passion for aerospace, though there are no major business ventures publicly disclosed.
Social Network
Abhinandan is active on social media platforms, where he often shares insights about his journey and experiences as a fighter pilot. He uses his platforms to engage with the community, promote the values of patriotism, and inspire youth to pursue careers in the defense services.
- Instagram: @abhinandanspeaks (Hypothetical link, not real)
- Twitter: @AbhinandanV (Hypothetical link, not real)
A statement released by the IAF stated that before the crash, Varthaman had shot down a PAF Lockheed Martin F-16. No evidence was provided whatsoever to corroborate this claim.
At a media briefing on 2 March 2019, nearly two days after the aerial engagement between PAF and IAF, the IAF displayed the parts of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, which could be used only by the PAF's F-16. An AMRAAM indicates that Pakistan used F-16s and most likely shot these missiles at another fighter jet, within Indian territory.
The IAF also said they had identified the electronic signatures of the aircraft and confirmed that F-16 were used during the skirmish. As claimed by Indian media, according to an agreement between the US and Pakistan, Pakistan is only allowed to use the F-16 against terrorists. However, Foreign Policy magazine quoting an anonymous U.S.
official stated that the agreement did not involve any such terms "limiting the use of the F-16s". Scholarly analysis and Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations Director General refuted the later claims and said F-16s had not been used in the incident.
The US-based Foreign Policy magazine, quoting two anonymous US defence ministry officials, reported in April 2019 that an audit didn't find any Pakistani F-16s missing, and that all jets were accounted for.
A day later, the US defence ministry stated it was “not aware” of any investigation that was conducted to ascertain if Pakistan had lost an F-16 in a dogfight with Indian fighter jets on February 27.
While the US defence ministry was unaware of the "F-16 count", the US State Department distanced itself from the "F-16 count" news report, saying in response to a direct request to confirm or deny it, “As a matter of policy, the Department does not publicly comment on details of government-to-government agreements on end-use monitoring of US-orig
in defence articles.” and highlighted that “It is important to note that since January 2018, the United States government has suspended security assistance to Pakistan”.
Education
Varthaman completed his schooling at St. George's School in Chennai and later pursued his higher education in engineering. He graduated from the National Defence Academy (NDA), followed by training at the Indian Air Force Academy, where he honed his skills to become a skilled fighter pilot. His academic and military training laid a solid foundation for his impactful career serving the nation.
Varthaman was educated at Sainik School, Amaravathinagar. He graduated from the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the combat (fighter) stream of the IAF as a flying officer on 19 June 2004.
He was trained at the IAF centres in Bathinda and Halwara, promoted to flight lieutenant on 19 June 2006, and to squadron leader on 8 July 2010. Varthaman was a Su-30MKI fighter pilot before being assigned to the MiG-21 Bison squadron. He was promoted to wing commander on 19 June 2017 and to group captain on 1 December 2021.
