Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapur Reflect on IC 814 Series Amidst Controversy

Veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapur share their experiences working on 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack', praising each other's performances. Meanwhile, the series faces backlash over the depiction of hijackers, leading to updates and legal challenges.

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah shared his experience of working with Pankaj Kapur in the series 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack'. During a press meet in Mumbai, Shah applauded Kapur's acting prowess, describing him as unpredictable yet thoroughly prepared. Shah likened their collaboration to playing tennis, where one envies and respects their co-player's game.

Kapur reciprocated the admiration, stating that working with Shah activates a sixth sense within him, prompting him to learn and observe. He expressed gratitude for Shah's kind words and praised the series' well-written script, which spanned over 200 pages.

Kapur also spoke about his positive experience working with director Anubhav Sinha. On another front, 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack' stirred controversy on social media over the names of the hijackers depicted in the series. Netflix updated its opening disclaimer to include both real and code names used during the actual 1999 hijacking event. Monika Shergill, Vice President of Content at Netflix India, emphasized the company's commitment to authentic storytelling.

However, a PIL was filed in the Delhi High Court by Surjit Singh Yadav, Chief of Hindu Sena, alleging the series distorts the identities of the terrorists by assigning them Hindu names. BJP leaders Amit Malviya and Rajeev Chandrasekhar also criticized the series, arguing that it misrepresents historical facts.

'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack', created by Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Shrivastava, features Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Arvind Swamy, Patralekhaa, and Dia Mirza. The six-episode series recounts the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 on December 24, 1999.

(With inputs from agencies.)