IC-814 Director Anubhav Sinha Breaks Silence Amid Controversy Over Hijackers’ Names: ‘Remained Truthful’

The series IC814: The Kandahar Hijack has created a major uproar among the audience after its release on the OTT giant Netflix. A section of society accused the makers of the series of intentionally misrepresenting the religious identity of the five hijackers who forcefully took over the Indian Airlines flight in 1999. Following the controversy, the makers added a disclaimer at the beginning of the series specifying the real names of the criminals. Now, reflecting on the controversy, director Anubhav Sinha has finally addressed the matter. He mentioned that these controversies are something entirely different.
During a conversation with Hindustan Times, Anubhav said, “Pyaar bahut zyada aa raha hai. All the praise, love, and pats on the back make everything else fade away.” He added, “These controversies are something else entirely. I don’t want to play that game, nor do I know how to! I just know how to make a film; it is a very intensely researched project, and we have been working on it since June 2022, remaining truthful to the script.”
After the release of the series, several survivors came forward to share their harrowing experiences. Sinha further added, “Although I don’t spend much time online these days, I’ve heard about the discussions. The audience stood by me in the same way when there were issues during Mulk (2018). As a filmmaker, I approach my work with a purist mindset, just like I did with Thappad (2020), Anek (2022), and Bheed (2023). Many are calling this my best work to date, saying it’s Anubhav 3.0. People are binge-watching it with their families, which I am happy to know from the platform data. I have immense gratitude.”
About IC814: The Kandahar Hijack
Based on true events, the thriller series features Vijay Verma in the lead role. The show delves into the narrative of how an Indian Airlines flight was hijacked soon after it took off from Kathmandu, Nepal. The series shows the different landings the plane made — one in Amritsar and another in Dubai — to refuel. Apart from Vijay Verma, the show also features Pankaj Kapur, Dia Mirza, Manoj Pahwa, Naseeruddin Shah, and Rajiv Thakur, among others, in key roles.