Anubhav Sinha Says Pankaj Kapur Was 'Difficult' to Cast in IC 814 Kandahar Hijack: 'He Insisted...' | Exclusive

Anubhav Sinha has assembled a powerhouse cast for his upcoming Netflix series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack. The series features legendary actors Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapur, alongside an ensemble that includes Vijay Varma, Arvind Swamy, Dia Mirza, Patralekhaa, Amrita Puri, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, and Squid Game star Anupam Tripathi. With such an impressive lineup, News18 Showsha asked Sinha which actor was the most challenging to cast. The director revealed that it was none other than Pankaj Kapur.

Sinha and Kapur have a history of collaboration, having first worked together on Dus in 2005. Reflecting on their two-decade-long acquaintance, Sinha acknowledged Kapur’s deep affection for him but admitted that the actor’s initial response to the role in IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack was a firm ‘no.’ “Pankaj Kapur was the most difficult to cast," Sinha said. “He doesn’t say yes easily. He loves me dearly, and I’ve been working with him since 2004."

Recalling their conversation, Sinha shared, “He said, ‘I won’t do the series. Why should I?’ I thought sending him his scenes might change his mind. But he insisted, ‘No, I want to read the whole script.’ I told him, ‘Pankaj bhai, it’s 200 pages, 6 episodes…’ He replied, ‘I will read the 200 pages.’ So I said, okay, read," Sinha added with a smile.

Sinha emphasised the importance of fully utilising the talents of such distinguished actors. “When you have Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapur sitting in the same row, surrounded by Arvind Swamy, Kumud Mishra, and Manoj Pahwa, you have to bring out the best in them. Otherwise, underutilizing them would be a failure on my part. These actors carry legacies and temperaments that must be honored."

Watch the IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack trailer below:

For those unfamiliar, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is based on the harrowing true story of Indian Airlines Flight IC 814, which was hijacked on December 24, 1999. The flight, en route from Kathmandu to New Delhi, was thrust into a dramatic seven-day ordeal of terror and negotiation. Created and written by Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Srivastava, the six-episode series is set to premiere on Netflix on August 29.