Naseeruddin Shah Feared 'Wave of Islamophobia' After IC814 Kandahar Hijack in 1999: 'Felt Extremely Disturbed'

Naseeruddin Shah has claimed that he was left ‘disturbed’ after the 1999 Kandahar Hijack of IC814. On Tuesday, the actor was speaking at a press conference for his recently released show when he recalled fearing a ‘wave of islamophobia’ after the shocking incident took place in 1999. The veteran actor mentioned that he was ‘terribly concerned’ and added that it left him with a feeling of unease for a long time.

“I was about 50 when this happened, end of the previous century. I remember being extremely disturbed because I feared that it would provoke another wave of Islamophobia. Luckily, at that time, it didn’t. I remember feeling terribly concerned about the situation and what it would lead to. I was left with a feeling of unease. I could not pinpoint why I felt this but I did feel that the passenger and pilot went through a horrific time. No closure. I remember feeling this,” Naseeruddin said.

This comes at a time when the controversy around the recently released show, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has left a section of the audience disappointed. The show, which stars Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza Pankaj Kapur and Arvind Swamy besides Naseeruddin Shah, was released on Netflix earlier last week.

However, following the release, many pointed out the non-Muslim names of the hijackers in the show and sought a boycott. However, an earlier Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) note from 2000, which outlined the sequence of events, had conceded that the hijackers had codenamed themselves as Burger, Shankar, Bhola and Doctor.

Following the backlash, Netflix agreed to update the disclaimer of the series and mention the real names of the hijackers. The decision came after officials of the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry met Netflix representatives over the alleged misrepresentation of facts in the new series.

“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. India has a rich culture of storytelling — and we are committed to showcasing these stories and their authentic representation,” said Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content, Netflix India.