Anubhav Sinha fires back at reporter’s claims of fact distortion in IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack: “Aapne series dekhi hain?”

Director Anubhav Sinha found himself at the centre of controversy during a press meet in Mumbai on Tuesday, where he was promoting his latest web series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The series, based on the 1999 hijacking incident, has been embroiled in controversy since its release on August 29, with accusations of distorting facts and ‘whitewashing’ the events.

Anubhav Sinha’s Response to Allegations
The tension at the press meet escalated when a reporter questioned Sinha about the alleged distortion of facts in the series. Initially, Sinha refused to engage, but when the questioning persisted, he lost his temper. The director snapped, “Aapne series dekhi hain? (asked repeatedly) Series dekhiye. Baat nahi kar sakta aapse, aapne series nahin dekhi.” (Did you watch the series? Watch it first. I can’t talk to you because you haven’t watched it). The press conference abruptly ended following this heated exchange.
Controversy Surrounding IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack stars Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, Pankaj Kapur, Arvind Swamy, and Naseeruddin Shah. The series quickly became a subject of debate due to its portrayal of the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814. A section of the viewers has accused the show of misrepresenting the facts, particularly in its depiction of the hijackers’ code names, which some claimed were offensive and misleading.

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Netflix’s Response to the Backlash
In response to the controversy, Netflix agreed to update the series’ disclaimer to include both the real and code names of the hijackers. Monika Shergill, Vice President of Content at Netflix India, clarified in a press note, “For the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, the opening disclaimer has been updated to include the real and code names of the hijackers. The code names in the series reflect those used during the actual event.”

Also Read: Anubhav Sinha expresses gratitude towards appreciation for IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack amid boycott calls: “I am indebted”