4 hours agoAuthor: Virendra Mishra
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Director Anubhav Sinha is making his OTT debut through the web series 'IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack'. This series is based on the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 in 1999. This series has been streamed on Netflix. Recently, Anubhav Sinha, Kumud Mishra, Vijay Verma, Patralekha and Dia Mirza had a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar regarding this series.
During this, everyone shared their experiences. Anubhav Sinha told that he was a little worried about Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapoor and Arvind Swami in the series. He also told that he is planning a big film with VFX like 'Ra: One'.
Anubhav ji, this is an incident that everyone knows about, when did you feel that a series should be made on this subject?
I got an offer from Netflix to make a series on this subject. Writer Trishant Srivastava, producer Sarita Patil, Netflix India Vice President Monica Shergill and the rest of the creative team were working on this project for some time. At one point they felt that now a director is needed. I was called in July 2021. Earlier the script was based on a book by the captain. In which there were only things inside the aircraft.
While reading it, I felt as if I was wondering what was going on behind it. Why is the plane being hijacked from Kathmandu and going to Kandahar? What is its connection with that place? All these questions were running in my mind. I felt that if I have a desire to know all this, then the general public will also have the desire to know.
I talked to the creative team at Netflix about telling it in more detail. They gave me complete freedom. Like everyone else, I also thought I knew everything about that incident. But when I went deeper into the incident, I realized that I knew only the basics.
During your research, did you ever feel that this incident could have been prevented in Amritsar itself?
Look, I have said what I had to say through this series. If I talk about it in an interview now, it will remain incomplete. The series has all the details. We know that the plane took off from Amritsar. It should have been stopped there. This is the common perception of people. But if we don't look at what actually happened in its entirety, we won't understand it.
Vijay ji, when you were told about the character, what was the first thing that came to your mind about the character?
The first thing was not the character. The biggest reason for joining this project is Anubhav Sir. He was very keen to work with me. I joined this project to learn. The captain's efforts to save lives amidst chaos and fear are really inspiring. The bravery he showed was very inspiring to me.
Kumud ji, what is the basic mantra behind the ease that is seen in your acting?
I believe in the director, script and co-stars. The rest of the things happen on their own. There is no secret to spontaneity in acting. Everything happens on its own.
Patralekha ji, you must have heard about the Kandahar hijacking. Did you ever feel scared of boarding a plane after that incident?
I was very young then. During the shooting of this series, Anubhav Sir created such an environment that I was scared. It was very difficult for me while shooting inside the plane. Anubhav Sir makes the environment completely real.
Diya ji, you have worked in many of Anubhav Sinha's projects. It must have been decided during the shooting of 'Bheed' that you are working in it?
No, even Anubhav ji did not know about this project at that time. I am lucky that I get a chance to work with him. I have known him for many years. I am happy that he got a chance to come out of Aircraft, so I got a chance to work in it. He always brings beautiful characters for me. It does not happen often, but when such a character is written for a woman, it feels very good.
Anubhav ji, how much of this series was shot on actual locations and how much was shot by setting up sets?
Talking about the actual location, we did not go to Kandahar. We had prepared a set of a plane. Actually, this should not be told. Because the mystery of the series should remain intact as to how we did it. Still, if I want to answer this honestly, then the actual location is more than 50 percent.
How many precautions did you have to take during the shooting?
I mostly shoot with friends. If I am working with someone for the first time, then when I meet them I pay attention to how well they know their work. I also pay attention to how much fun it will be to work together. If there is no fun on the set, if there is no trust in the other person's work, then good work will not be done.
I was a little worried about Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapoor and Arvind Swami as to how I would be able to do my scenes with them. But a day before the shooting, I called everyone on the set for a discussion to see how the work was going on. There I became a little comfortable.
Artists who were not working in this series also used to come to see how the work was going. One day Taapsee Pannu came and secretly saw a shooting and went away without anyone knowing. Many such people used to come.
Do you want to share any interesting anecdote from your shooting time?
Vijay Verma- Once we were shooting in a real aircraft in Jordan. When it opened, it made such a loud noise that people would go inside covering their ears. That day I had a return flight. That scene was cut many times because of the loud noise. Sometimes the army people would also say that we cannot shoot for two hours, now our bullets will fly. Everyone would sit down. At that time, it was very difficult to take 'one more' shot.
Kumad Mishra– After watching the performance of an actor, I forgot that I was also in that scene. I cannot tell his name. It is a personal matter. But, such experiences are only available with such a team.
Letter Accounting- I was working with Anubhav sir for the first time. He was more active on the set than us. I have never seen such an active director. It has been a great experience working with him.
Diya Mirza- The rapport shown with Amrita Puri is amazing. After every shot, it felt like something good has been done. The most fun thing about working with Anubhav is that we get the best out of it.
Anubhav ji, are you planning a film like 'Ra:One'?
Yes, I am planning some films with VFX. I will also work on films on politics, but now I will make bigger films. Something like this is going on, I will not be able to tell anything more than this right now.