Netflix’s IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack revolves around the tragic events of December 24th, 1999, when an Indian passenger plane was hijacked by some Islamist militants while it was flying to Delhi from Kathmandu. At that point in time, the flight had some 176 passengers onboard, along with the crew and their brave captain, Devi Sharan. Despite the Indian government’s initial reluctance to negotiate with terrorists, the officials managed to bring the passengers back to India safely. Anubhav Sinha’s IC-814 plays like an intense thriller that realistically captures the ordeal hostages went through. So, without any further ado, let’s find out more about these unsung heroes through our cast and character guide.
Captain Devi Sharan
Vijay Varma once again proves his incredible talent by portraying Captain Devi Sharan (or Sharan Dev) in IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack. We’ve seen Vijay deliver powerful performances in Darlings and Mirzapur, and he doesn’t disappoint here either. As Captain Sharan, he brings to life the bravery and calmness of a man who found himself in an unimaginable situation. Captain Sharan was a family man, who was deeply devoted to his wife (Pooja Gaur) and daughter. Sharan Dev was supposed to be with his family, but maybe fate had other plans for him.
At the last minute, Captain Sharan’s flight assignment changed, and he ended up on that fateful plane with Sunil Sachdeva – the first officer (Karan Desai), and Rajendra Nangia – the flight engineer. What seemed like bad luck for him turned out to be a blessing for the 176 passengers onboard. Despite being attacked by the terrorists, Captain Sharan never lost his composure. His main focus was always on keeping everyone safe. He was really resourceful. After the plane landed in Kandahar, he cleverly managed to fuel the tanks and then empty them again to buy some time. What was his intention? Actually, he overheard that the hijackers were planning to crash the plane into the Indian Parliament in Delhi. He was just not thinking about surviving, but he tried to outsmart the terrorists. But what really stands out about Captain Sharan is his humanity.
Sharan Dev cleaned the toilets for the passengers to make sure they could use them with some dignity. It’s a small gesture, but it shows what kind of person Sharan Dev was. He cared deeply about others in those terrifying circumstances. Captain Devi Sharan was truly one of a kind. After safely bringing everyone home, he shared his incredible story in his book “Flight Into Fear,” giving us all a glimpse into the heart and mind of a man who remained brave and generous when it mattered most.
Ram Chandra Yadav
Anupam Tripathi delivers a strong performance as Ram Chandra Yadav, the First Officer at the Indian Embassy, in IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack. Ram Chandra Yadav was the first to discover the terrifying hijacking plot. He immediately alerted the RAW officials to try to prevent the disaster before it unfolded. Unfortunately, his warnings were ignored, which led to the nightmare that followed. But Ram didn’t back down. He knew what had to be done and kept working to gather crucial information about the explosives, like the RDX, that were on the plane. Ram was a man of integrity and dedication, doing everything he could to protect his country. What makes his character even more admirable is that he never sought recognition for his efforts. For him, it was simply about doing his duty and safeguarding the nation.
Ranjan Mishra, Mukul Mohan, DSR
In IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack, we see Kumud Mishra as Ranjan Mishra, who is a RAW official. And then, we have Manoj Pahwa as Mukul Mohan, the Additional Director of IB. Also, Arvind Swamy as the DSR RAW official. These three played important roles in negotiating with the terrorists to cope with the tense situation in Kandahar. Ranjan, Mukul, and the DSR official went to Kandahar to meet with Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil and then decided to engage directly with the hijackers. It was an incredibly tough task, but they were able to handle the situation properly in the end. Actually, Ranjan, Mukul, and DSR had to understand the hijackers’ mindset and find a way to bring everyone home safely. At first, the terrorists’ demands were sky-high—$200 million, the release of 35 of their comrades from jail, and the body of their martyr, Sajjad Afghani. It was impossible to approve these. But Mukul Mohan, with his sharp mind and steady nerves, managed to bring those demands down to just three terrorists locked up in India. Together, Ranjan, Mukul, and DSR played a critical role in resolving the crisis.
Vijaybhan Singh
Vijaybhan Singh, played by OG Pankaj Kapur, is a character who truly stands out. As the Minister of External Affairs, he was one of the first to understand that this crisis wasn’t the time to stick strictly to the rulebook. He realized that saving lives had to come before anything else. From the start, Vijaybhan was focused on doing what was necessary to protect the passengers. He wasn’t interested in just following procedures for the sake of it.
When the Chief Minister of Kashmir hesitated to release the terrorists, Vijaybhan took matters into his own hands. Vijaybhan knew that the lives of the passengers were more important than sticking to the rules, so he made a bold decision. He went to the press and declared that the terrorists would be released to make sure that the passengers could come home safely. Vijaybhan was fully aware that his decision would be questioned and that history might not look kindly on it. After all, the terrorists, once released, went back to causing more havoc, just as feared. But Vijaybhan did what he believed was right, as he wasn’t afraid to take responsibility for his actions. You know why? Because he didn’t let the fear of criticism stop him from making this necessary decision.
Indrani and Chaya
Here, we see two flight attendants, Indrani and Chaya, played by Patralekhaa Paul and Amrita Puri, respectively. They stayed strong and did their best to take care of the passengers. Indrani was also a devoted daughter. Indrani’s father was paralyzed, and had no one to look after him except his daughter. It was one of the reasons why Indrani got extremely worried when she found out that plane was hijacked. Despite Indrani’s initial fear, she maintained her calm and stayed focused on her job. There was even one moment when Indrani got slapped by the hijackers for trying to take care of the passengers, but she didn’t let that stop her from doing her duty.
The second airhostess, Chaya, was no less brave than Indrani. Even in the most terrifying moments, Chaya didn’t let fear control her actions and kept doing her job with utmost sincerity. She kept serving food and water to the passengers to make them comfortable. Chaya even went as far as to clean the toilets when things got out of hand, just to ensure the passengers could have some basic comfort. Both Indrani and Chaya showed incredible courage and selflessness.
Shalini
Played by Dia Mirza, Shalini Chandra was the editor of the newspaper Indian Headlines and was responsible for bringing the truth of the situation to the public. Shalini always knew that the country needed to see what was really happening, even if it meant challenging the government. Shalini was brave, but she also understood the risks of exposing the government’s failures, especially during such a critical time. But she believed that people had the right to know the truth.
Throughout this ordeal, Shalini faced a lot of pressure, particularly from Nandini Martin, a reporter who constantly questioned her decisions. The two of them didn’t always see eye to eye. However, both managed to work together to make sure that the public was informed about the reality of the situation. They even showed how the government officials were struggling to handle the crisis.
Maulana Masood Azhar
He was a dangerous figure known for his extreme views and recruitment of young terrorists. He’s the son of Maulana Allah Bakhsh, who has been spreading chaos through his speeches. Masood was arrested in India for trying to resolve conflict between Kashmiri terrorist groups. After several failed attempts to rescue him from jail, this hijack was the fourth effort to bring him back. Masood’s influence and radical beliefs made him a high-priority target for rescue, to show just how significant his role was in this deadly game.
Ibrahim Azhar (the Chief)
Ibrahim Azhar, also known as the Chief, is Masood’s brother and plays a crucial role in the hijacking plan. Determined to free his brother, Ibrahim was directly involved in the hijacking operation. He wanted to ensure that Masood was rescued, and he was ready to take part in the mission himself.
Amjad Farooqui
Amjad Farooqui is a notorious figure known for his ruthless efficiency. Once a brilliant ISI operative, he earned a fearsome reputation for his brutal actions, including the massacre of 400 people in Afghanistan, earning him the chilling nickname “Butcher of Herat.” Farooqui was chosen by Ilyas Kashmiri to lead the hijacking operation to rescue Masood Azhar. His role was crucial; he not only executed the hijack but also managed the negotiations with the terrorists. Farooqui’s ruthless skills and strategic mind made him the perfect candidate for this high-stakes mission, highlighting his dangerous influence and capability.
