IC: 814 Fame Harry Parmar On Playing Hijacker:'I Tried To Understand How Their Mind Works'

The recent Netflix show IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack sparked fresh memories of the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in December 1999. The mini-series also brought to the fore the role of the hijackers who took the passengers under custody for 7 days, forcing the pilot to take the aircraft to multiple destinations. Among the actors who stepped into the terrorists’ shoes was Harry Parmar, who found the role quite challenging and complex.

In a recent interview, Harry opened up on the preparations and research that went behind bringing the dark character to life. Stating that playing a hijacker in a story was a huge responsibility, the actor recalled trying to understand the motivations that made them carry out such an extreme act. “I tried to understand what drives them, how their mind works, and how they justify their actions. It is very important to humanise even the darkest characters to make the portrayal authentic,” he said as quoted by The Free Press Journal.

The Tumbbad actor also shared that he read related books, news articles, and personal accounts of the hijacking along with watching documentaries to understand his character. Coming to the psychological preparation, he said, “Physically, I also prepared to ensure I looked the part, but the mental preparation was crucial. I had to distance myself from my moral compass and tap into a darker, more radical mindset, which was quite challenging.”

Harry Parmar also explained why he agreed to do the show, stating that it gave him a chance to be a part of a crucial and intense story and that he felt the responsibility to do justice to such an important narrative.

During the conversation, Harry also shared his thoughts on the controversies around the code names of the hijackers in the show. He said that such controversies are inevitable, especially when dealing with real-life incidents that carry emotional weight. “While the series is a dramatisation, every effort was made to be respectful of the facts. Ultimately, the aim was to tell a compelling story without compromising on the truth. I believe the audience will understand the intent behind the creative decisions,” he added. IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack is currently streaming on Netflix.