"Vijay Varma on his role as Captain Devi Sharan in IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, says "We Weren't Imitating Anyone"

Vijay further stated that Captain Devi Sharan's wife, Mrs. Sharan, praised his portrayal of her husband

Vijay Varma, who portrayed Captain Devi Sharan in the Netflix series "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack," revealed recently that he received the highest praise for his performance from the real-life Captain himself. Devi Sharan commended Varma's portrayal, stating that he captured the essence of the character accurately.

The Netflix series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is based on the true events of the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814. The six-episode series dramatizes the more than week-long ordeal, with Captain Devi Sharan, the head pilot of the flight during the incident, serving as the inspiration for Vijay Varma's character.

“Stories come to you at a certain point when you are ready to do them or sometimes stories get you ready for something, these things are so invisible. It is too philosophical to make sense of it. But I was happy that Captain Devi Sharan enjoyed the work, he called and gave me a pat on the back," said Vijay Varma at the press conference.

Vijay further stated that Captain Devi Sharan's wife, Mrs. Sharan, praised his portrayal of her husband, saying, "I know this man more than he knows himself, and I can tell you that you've come very close to him."

The Dahaad actor stated that he deliberately avoided imitating the real-life Captain Devi Sharan in his performance. He emphasized that the goal was not to replicate the captain's voice or appearance but to capture the essence of his character. Varma added that the director, Neeraj Ghaywan, never provided him with reference materials or specific instructions to mimic the real-life figure.

Vijay also revealed that when he met Captain Devi Sharan, he found him to be a gentle, sincere, and devoted person. Therefore, he endeavoured to maintain that same energy in his portrayal. Varma expressed gratitude for the opportunity to portray the character and acknowledged the director's skill in capturing the essence of the character through the camera and green screen setup.

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In the latest development surrounding the controversy over the series, Netflix India announced on Tuesday that it has revised the opening disclaimer of the series "IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack" to include the real and code names of the hijackers. This decision follows a meeting between Netflix’s content head, Monika Shergill, and Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju.

The popular series is currently gaining traction in 42 countries and has secured the second position on Netflix's Global Top 10 (Non-English TV) List. The series features an ensemble cast including Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza, Patralekhaa, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, and Pooja A Gor.