India

Cabin Crew Member Anil Sharma Criticizes Fictitious Scenes In ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’

Anil Sharma, the chief steward on the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814, has criticized the Netflix series ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’ for depicting certain fictitious scenes. Sharma, who witnessed the 1999 hijacking by the Pakistan-based terror group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, stated that some scenes in the series do not reflect the actual events.

After the series’ release, social media users accused creators Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Srivastava of changing the names of two hijackers to ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar,’ which some believed hurt Hindu sentiments.

Sharma confirmed that these names are imaginary and not the real names of the hijackers. He also pointed out that no crew member was injured or slapped during the hijacking, contrary to what the series shows.

Also Read: Film Director Ranjith Seeks Anticipatory Bail In Sexual Assault Case

Reflecting on the incident, Sharma recalled realizing the gravity of the situation when asked to dispose of a body at Dubai airport. He referred to a passenger stabbed by the hijackers. Sharma also noted that although Jaswant Singh, the then External Affairs Minister, faced criticism for his role, his visit to Kandahar had a positive impact.

However, he acknowledged that India paid a heavy price, as the release of three terrorists led to numerous subsequent attacks involving Pakistani elements.

In response to the controversy, Netflix India updated the opening disclaimer to include both the real and code names of the hijackers. Monika Shergill, Netflix Vice President (Content, India), stated that the code names used in the series reflect those from the actual event.

Shibra Arshad

Recent Posts

Hina Khan Hails 11 Years Of PM Modi’s Leadership; Highlights National Progress

As the nation marks 11 years under PM Modi's leadership, actress Hina Khan shares her…

1 hour ago

Subhash Ghai Hails PM Modi’s Transformative Vision For India

Subhash Ghai has praised PM Narendra Modi’s leadership for catalysing India’s growth and changing the…

2 hours ago

India & Central Asia Boost Rare Earth Cooperation At Delhi Meet

India and five Central Asian nations have agreed to deepen cooperation on rare earths and…

2 hours ago

PM Modi’s Beej Se Bazaar Tak Vision Reshapes Indian Agriculture

Prime Minister Modi has redefined Indian agriculture with the ‘Beej Se Bazaar Tak’ vision, transforming…

3 hours ago

EV Sales Cross 4% Mark In May; Signalling Steady Shift To Green Mobility

EV sales topped 4% of passenger vehicle retail in May 2025, signalling growing demand for…

3 hours ago

Self-Reliant Defence Industry Marks India’s Strategic Security Ascent

One year into Modi 3.0, reforms have reduced poverty, strengthened defence, and accelerated the digital…

3 hours ago