Amidst the raging controversy over Netflix’s controversial series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, comedian Rajiv Thakur has revealed that it was popular comedian Kapil Sharma who encouraged him to take up the role of a hijacker in the series as he was about to turn down Anubhav Sinha’s offer, citing scheduling issues.
Notably, Rajiv Thakur has played the role of terrorist Ibrahim Akhtar alias “Chief” in the series based on the Indian Airlines flight IC814 hijacking in 1999. Thakur appeared in the first season of The Great Indian Kapil Show and it is expected that he may also feature in the second season as well.
In a recent interview, Rajiv Thakur pointed out that he was mulling the idea to decline the role in Anubhav Sinha’s series as his dates were clashing with Kapil Sharma’s America tour. He, however, added that Kapil Sharma not only encouraged him to take up the role but also postponed his America tour so that he could work on the Netflix series directed by Anubhav Sinha.
Speaking with India Today, he said, “It’s all thanks to Kapil that I managed to do the show. The series team asked for my dates in June last year, which were already with him for our America tour. This is why I decided to say no. But when Kapil got to know about it, he encouraged me to take up IC 814. He told me ‘Tu series kar, hum show push kar denge (you do the series, we will push the show)’. And that’s how our show was postponed to July. I had already committed to him, so I would have rejected the show, but he pushed me, and I am thankful for that. This is what true friends do, isn’t it?”
He added that the entire team of the Kapil Sharma show was very supportive of him.
Thakur further stated, “Archana ji (Archana Puran Singh) was so happy, saying that my credit was long due. And when she watched the show she also posted a long note about us. I remember Kapil also watched the show late at night after a shoot and immediately messaged Anubhav sir. He called me the first thing the next morning and he sounded so happy and proud. I think this makes me so much happier.”
Netflix Mini-series IC-814 sparked massive outrage with several experts dubbing it as ISI’s PR piece
Pertinently, the newly released propaganda series IC 814 has been facing massive backlash for absolving Pakistan and ISI’s role in the Kandahar hijacking. The series also received a dressing down from all quarters for not disclosing the real names of the terrorists and using only pseudo-Hindu names that were used by the terrorists during the hijacking.
It also brazenly tried to peddle that ISI was not involved at all in this hijacking by Pakistani terrorists rather it was all Osama Bin Laden’s brainchild alone. Following the controversy, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting summoned Netflix India’s content head who promised not only to update the disclaimer but also to moderate content in the future.
