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IC 814 Controversy: Netflix Promises To Review Content To Align With National Sentiments In Future

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IC 814 Controversy: Netflix Promises To Review Content To Align With National Sentiments In Future

Netflix India Content Head, Monika Shergill, met the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on Tuesday (September 3) over the controversy surrounding Vijay Varma’s recently-released web series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. Shergill was summoned at Shastri Bhawan in view of certain contentious issues on the web series based on the Hijacking of IC-814.

For those unversed, the series has trigged a row on social media over the depiction and codenames of the hijackers. While the hijackers were identified as Muslims, post the incident of 1999, in the show they were given Hindu names. However, it may be mentioned that ‘Bhola’ and ‘Shankar’ are their codenames. However, critics felt that the makers should have clarified that in the web series.

A few social media users also accused director Anubhav Sinha of ‘distorting’ facts.

Netflix’s response

Amid the backlash and ongoing controversy, Netflix has promised that future content on its platform will be reviewed to align with national sentiments.

According to media reports, Netflix also stated that concerns regarding age-appropriateness and national security will be addressed and the company will provide updates on how it plans to address the concerns.

‘Portrayal of events during hijacking far from truth’

On the other hand, government sources saying, “Nobody has the right to play with the sentiments of the people of this nation. India’s culture and civilization should always be respected. You should think before portraying something in a wrong manner. The government is taking it very seriously.”

“The portrayal of events during the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 from Kathmandu to Kandahar in a recent OTT series is far from the truth. The script and characterisation of actors in the series is an attempt to erase facts and replace them with fiction to normalise a crime against the nation masterminded and facilitated by Pakistan’s ISI,” they added.

All you need to know about the controversy

Post the hijack incident in 1999, the five hijackers were identified as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar Sayed, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Zahoor Mistry, and Shakir, who were members of a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation.

However, soon after the web series released on August 29, netizens protested against the Hindu code names given to the characters of the hijackers.

Additionally, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) had been filed in the Delhi High Court by Surjit Singh Yadav, Chief of Hindu Sena, seeking a ban on IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The PIL alleged that the series distorts the actual identities of the terrorists involved in the hijacking.

The six-episode hijack-drama also features Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Arvind Swamy, Patralekhaa, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa and Dia Mirza among others.

It is based the events of December 24, 1999 when an Indian Airlines flight IC 814 enroute to Delhi from Kathmandu was hijacked after take off from the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal after it entered Indian airspace.

Bollywood

Aasif Khan’s wife reveals actor suffered major heart attack, calls out Qazi Touqeer for mocking him

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Wife of actor and ‘Bigg Boss 20’ contestant Aasif Khan penned a heartfelt note shedding light on his health condition after co-contestant Qazi Touqeer mimicked a heart attack in the middle of an argument during a recent episode of the reality show.

She penned on social media on Thursday, “Yes, Aasif had a heart attack. A massive one. At just 34. It breaks my heart that I now have to share his medical reports just to prove what he went through was real. I never imagined something so personal would have to be made public for people to believe him. (sic)”

She clarified that when Aasif initially said it was GERD and not a heart attack, it was out of fear, as he was worried that a serious health condition would cost him work.

“In an industry where opportunities are uncertain, especially without backing, that fear was real”, she further wrote.

Recalling the challenging time when Aasif was in the ICU, she shared, “I will never forget being told his main coronary artery was completely blocked, the ICU, the stent, or holding my husband as he cried, afraid of losing the future he had dreamed of. Aasif had already lost his father to a heart attack as a child. Surviving one himself brought back that heartbreak and the fear of leaving his own family behind.”

Expressing disappointment that Aasif’s health was turned into a joke, she added, “This has gone beyond criticism. We have faced vile abuse, death threats against Aasif and rape threats against our family. Nothing can justify this.”

“Bigg Boss is an entertainment reality show. When did entertainment become an excuse for cruelty? When did disagreements become a reason to threaten someone’s life or target their family?”, concluded the post.

For those who do not know, after Qazi performed his signature step, Aasif called it boring and asked him to act like a monkey. The argument got serious after Qazi pretended to have a heart attack, upsetting Aasif.

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Bollywood

Mika Singh recalls gatecrashing Amitabh Bachchan’s party, Big B says Jaya Bachchan has kept doors open for all

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Singer Mika Singh recently recalled his attempt to enter megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s famous Diwali party without an invitation on the quiz-based reality show, Kaun Banega Crorepati.

Sharing the anecdote, Mika said he would often pass by the Bachchan residence during Diwali, hoping to receive an invitation to the star-studded celebration someday.

Recalling those days, Mika said, “Main inke ghar ke aage se jaata tha… Toh jab bhi hoti thi, inki Diwali party bahut mashhoor hoti thi. Bahut se superstar hote the, sabse bade toh khud hi itne bade superstar hain… Toh Diwali party jab bhi hoti thi, main inke gate ke aage se jaata tha, toh meri badi ichha thi ki bhai, kab main inke ghar pe jaaunga, kab waisa bulawa aayega..”

(I used to pass by his house. His Diwali party was very famous, with so many superstars in attendance. And, of course, the biggest superstar of them all is Mr Bachchan himself. Whenever he hosted the Diwali party, I would pass by his gate, wishing that one day I would get to visit his house and receive an invitation)

He then narrated how he once used his large car to make the security personnel believe that a superstar was arriving at the party.

“Maine ghar bada nahi liya, meri gaadi bahut badi thi, toh sabko lagta tha ki koi superstar ghoom raha hai us gaadi ke andar. Bahut badi gaadi thi, inki Diwali party chal rahi hai aur poora media aur security wahan hai… Toh maine sirf aise jaake inke gate ke aage horn bajaya ‘paa…’ Unhone poora security ne darwaza khol diya ki woh bahut bada koi superstar aaya hai. Main bhi chashma pehan ke aise… kale sheeshe the, aise-aise karke andar ghus gaya..”

(I hadn’t bought a bigger house, but I had a very big car, so everyone thought a superstar was travelling inside it. The car was huge, and his Diwali party was underway, with the entire media and security present there. So, I simply drove up to his gate and honked, ‘Paa…’ The security team opened the gate, thinking that some big superstar had arrived. I was wearing sunglasses, and the car had tinted windows, so I managed to sneak inside, pretending to be someone important)

Mika, however, soon realised that he did not have an invitation and decided to reverse his car and leave. He said Bachchan later sent him a message, inviting him to meet him directly whenever he visited next.

“Phir mujhe realize hua ki main uninvited hoon, toh phir maine gaadi back kar li. Phir paaji ka message aaya ki ‘Aage toh jaddon bhi aana Punjabi vich, tussi meenu sidha milne aana’. So yeh inki greatness hai..”

(Then I realised that I was there without an invitation, so I reversed the car and left. Later, I received a message from paaji (Amitabh Bachchan) saying in Punjabi, ‘Whenever you come next time, come and meet me directly.’ That is what makes him so gracious)

Responding to Mika’s story, Amitabh Bachchan spoke about the welcoming atmosphere at his home during festivals, crediting his wife, actor-politician Jaya Bachchan, for her approach to guests.

“Aur humara jo nyota jaata hai… Diwali ka tyohar ho, Holi ka tyohar ho, koi bhi tyohar ho… Jaya ji kehti hain yeh khula ghar hai, jiske aana chahe woh aa sakta hai..”

(And as for our invitations, whether it is Diwali, Holi or any other festival, Jaya ji always says that this is an open house, and anyone who wishes to come is welcome)

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Bollywood

Shahid Kapoor ‘promptly breaks out of character’ after wrapping up ‘Farzi 2’ shoot

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Shahid Kapoor has wrapped up the shoot of the second season of his crime thriller series ‘Farzi’.

Filmmaker duo Raj & DK marked the occasion by sharing a behind-the-scenes video of the actor from the sets, in which he is seen being goofy. Sharing the video, the directors wrote: “It’s a wrap on the Artist and he promptly breaks out of character! Fantastic job @shahidkapoor. We got some crazy shit done this time! To the Fakers!”

In the video, the ‘Jab We Met’ actor is seen making funny expressions and breaking into some crazy dance moves. When Raj & DK ask him what is happening, Shahid responds with a goofy expression, saying, “Mera khatam,” before continuing with his playful antics.

The filmmakers also praised the actor’s performance and expressed their excitement over the work they have done for the upcoming season.

‘Farzi’ features Shahid in the role of an artist drawn into the world of counterfeiting. It also stars Vijay Sethupathi, Kay Kay Menon, Raashii Khanna, and Bhuvan Arora. The eight-episode series was released on Amazon Prime Video on 10 February 2023.

A few days ago, Shahid Kapoor reflected on his character Sunny as the shoot of his upcoming series ‘Farzi 2’ neared its completion. On October 15, the ‘Kabir Singh’ actor shared a series of pictures showcasing his looks from the sets of the second season. He also spoke about how deeply the character has become a part of him.

“As the shoot on Farzi 2 is coming to a close. It only reminds me of how much Sunny lives in me. I am him and he is me. We both started as just a kid off the mumbai streets with a fire in his heart to tell the world…. look at me. I am an artist,” he wrote as the caption.

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