Patralekhaa, who plays a cabin crew member in the OTT show IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, is all for giving scope to the director and scriptwriter’s “imagination” in the on-screen narration. “It’s a collaborative effort to bring authenticity and a personal touch to the role,” says the actor, in the wake of the platform revising its initial disclaimer for the show to reflect both the real and code names of the hijackers.
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting summoned the platform’s content chief over the programme, which allegedly distorts facts, whitewashes terrorism and offends public sentiment.
“This is not a documentary, of course. It is a series that has been written and obviously some parts have been imagined,” says the actor. “I don’t think many characters in the series have the real names of those who were involved in this incident,” adds the 34-year-old actor, insisting that telling stories in such circumstances is about “respecting the material and bringing your own interpretation to it.”
Read also: Amid IC-814 row, cabin crew chief slams Netflix series creators: ‘It was painful’
And what about the pressure of playing a role in a project based on a dark episode in history? “Rather than feeling it, I was looking forward to it. I remember the kidnapping incident from my childhood and the dramatic images on the news, of men with big guns. That was my first memory of Kandahar,” she recalls, adding: “In the end, these are stories and it was exciting to be part of a well-written one. Also, being part of a series with such stalwart characters will remain a very sweet part of my career path.”
Patralekhaa says playing a resilient flight attendant worried about her father’s deteriorating health at home amid a terror attack was emotionally wrenching. “The environment was very intense. We were on a plane set with a large crew – technicians, young actors, crew – and the feeling was very claustrophobic. The physical space and situation naturally put me in the emotional state needed. Despite all the preparation, once you are in front of the camera, it is a different experience. It took me a few days to fully understand the character and the environment,” she says.
On the reception the series and her role have received, the actress tells us that she “didn’t expect a response like this.” “So much love and appreciation. As an actress, you’re always looking for validation, right? The kind of feedback, love and appreciation I’ve received, I haven’t received in a long time. When (IC814) premiered, I was like, ‘Okay, cool. I’m a part of this, but let’s see what happens. ’ Whatever happened after that was just an added bonus. I’m overwhelmed with love and support. My phone has been buzzing non-stop with messages. I feel like people are genuinely happy for me, and that’s so gratifying. It’s been a long journey, and this validation means a lot,” she concludes.
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