Last week in Mumbai director Anubhav Sinha, alongside actors Vijay Varma, Dia Mirza and Netflix's Monika Shergill, unveiled trailer for the highly anticipated series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack to a select group of media professionals. The event offered a glimpse of gripping content. It highlighted the impressive casting lineup. Sinha managed to assemble it for the project.

The series which chronicles harrowing hijacking incident, stars an ensemble cast including Vijay Varma Dia Mirza. Arvind Swami, Naseeruddin Shah Pankaj Kapur, Patralekhaa Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Aditya Srivastava Amrita Puri, Kanwaljit Singh and Pooja Gor..During the event, Dia Mirza expressed her admiration for the casting coup, stating, “I don’t think a director has managed to have a casting like this. This cast has come together for their love for him and then of course for the love of the script. He was quite indebted to every cast member. He said, ‘I am in complete disbelief that these veterans have come forward for this project.’”

Mirza also shared anecdote about visiting the set just to witness a particular scene featuring nine powerhouse actors. This included Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Arvind Swami, Kumud Mishra and Manoj Pahwa all in one room. “We literally went there just to watch the shoot (and to see these actors together). I was not going to miss the opportunity for anything in the world,” she added.

Sinha described the challenges of directing such a talented group in a confined space, saying, “The more resources you have, the more utilization you have to do. If I underutilize them, it would be a failure on my part. They are also human beings with their own legacies and temperaments. When you have worked for 30-40 years, there’s a way in which you like working and the other actor has another way of working.” He lightened the mood by joking, “I am happy to put all the making of it on YouTube unedited!” eliciting laughter, particularly from Monika Shergill, whose surprised reaction added to the moment.

Vijay Varma, whose role was pivotal in the series, remembered how he came on board the project after a meeting with Sinha for Thappad didn't come to fruition. Describing his conversation with Sinha, Varma remembered how, “Anubhav sir and I met for Thappad (2020) but that didn’t materialize. When I met him for this show, he told me, ‘Isme 12-15 actors hai, zyada kuch hai nahin. Keh sakte hai ki hero karole hai, lekin hai bhi nahin.’ I asked him, ‘Sir, do you want me to do the role or not?’ (laughs)! He said, ‘I want to promise you less and hopefully, deliver more’!”

Sinha explained his philosophy, stating simply, “I hate sad actors on sets!” Varma also shared what ultimately drew him to project: “Firstly, it had Anubhav Sinha. Secondly, when he mentioned Naseeruddin Shah and Pankaj Kapur, I felt, ‘Am I an idiot to not do it?’. It would be an honor to just sit in a room with them.” This prompted a light-hearted moment, with everyone reminding him, “Which you never got!” adding to event’s entertaining atmosphere.

IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is set to premiere on Netflix on August 29. It promises a captivating blend of suspense and stellar performances.