The upcoming Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack promises to offer a gripping portrayal of one of India’s most infamous aviation crises. The series features an ensemble cast led by actor Vijay Varma, who plays the pilot caught in the middle of the ordeal. In a recent roundtable discussion, director Anubhav Sinha shared chilling anecdotes about the real-life incident, revealing the intense pressure faced by the flight’s captain during the hijacking.
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack: Anubhav Sinha recounts pilot’s harrowing experience; says, “He still has a mark on his neck, where the hijackers had put the gun”
Vijay Varma on Preparing for the Role of the Pilot
Vijay Varma immersed himself deeply in the role by undergoing a week-long training course in a flight simulator. He spent nearly 90% of his scenes cocooned inside a cockpit set, which helped him authentically replicate the claustrophobic and tense environment of the hijacking. Reflecting on the bravery of the real-life pilot, Captain Devi Sharan, Vijay highlighted how the pilot kept his composure under extreme pressure.
“To keep his cool, to buy time, and to make sure that the flight lands safely in all these conflicted areas… As per the SOPs, as a pilot, you’re supposed to follow the instructions of the hijackers. At the same time, he was trying to maneuver how he could influence them. He bought time, at gunpoint,” Vijay explained.
Anubhav Sinha Shares Unseen Details
Director Anubhav Sinha provided further insights into the pilot’s ordeal, revealing that Captain Devi Sharan’s harrowing experience left a lasting physical mark. “He still has a mark on his neck, from where the hijackers had put the gun on him. It kept rubbing against his skin for so long that it left a mark, and the mark is still there,” Anubhav shared.
Anubhav also recounted a critical moment during the hijacking when the plane, nearly out of fuel, was forced to fly at an extremely low altitude of 150-200 feet from Amritsar to Lahore. The pilot, facing immense pressure, threatened to land the aircraft on a highway if Pakistani authorities did not allow the plane to land. This threat eventually persuaded Lahore authorities to grant permission for the plane to touch down on Pakistani soil.
“I asked him, ‘What were you thinking when you decided to land on the highway?’ And he said, ‘I was prepared to land so that at least a few people survive, but I also felt that this threat might convince Lahore authorities to grant us permission to land at the airport’,” Anubhav recalled.
What is the story of the IC 814 hijack?
The week-long hijacking of IC 814 in December 1999 brought India to a standstill. The plane, commandeered by terrorists shortly after takeoff from Kathmandu, landed in multiple locations including Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai, and finally Kandahar, Afghanistan, where intense negotiations took place. The hostages were eventually released in exchange for three high-profile terrorists, marking a dark chapter in India’s aviation history.
IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is set to premiere on August 29 on Netflix, offering viewers a chance to relive and reflect on the dramatic events that unfolded during the hijacking.
Also Read: Vijay Varma starrer IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack premieres at IFFM 2024; Anubhav Sinha calls it ‘incredibly rewarding’
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