evidence: Indian fighter pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, who was recently released by Pakistan, has become a national figure, inspiring art, adverts and perhaps even a trend in facial hair fashion. [...] The pilot became a national hero within hours of his capture after Pakistani forces shot down his fighter jet. [...] Most Indians first saw the pilot on 27 February when Pakistan's information ministry released - and later deleted - a video showing him blindfolded and his face bloodied.