Harinder Sikka has sharply criticized Meghna Gulzar’s adaptation of his acclaimed novel Calling Sehmat into the 2018 film Raazi, labeling it his “gravest misjudgment.” Sikka’s remarks come as he reflects on the film’s portrayal of its protagonist, which he claims was diminished by ideological bias.

Released in 2018, Raazi starred Alia Bhatt and was both a critical and commercial success. However, Sikka argues that the film failed to capture the true spirit of the story, which revolves around an Indian spy married into a Pakistani military family during the 1971 war.

Sikka described Calling Sehmat as one of the top books on espionage ever written globally, emphasizing his disappointment with how Gulzar interpreted the narrative. “The way Meghna Gulzar twisted the story through a leftist lens still pains me deeply,” he stated, indicating a strong ideological disagreement with the film’s direction.

Since 2020, Sikka has voiced his dissatisfaction with the film adaptation, expressing regret over his collaboration with Gulzar. He revealed that he had been warned by others not to trust her, and in hindsight, he acknowledges that he underestimated her approach. “Trust, but verify,” he quoted, reflecting on the lessons learned from this experience.

Moreover, Sikka has also criticized Gulzar’s portrayal of the historical figure Sam Manekshaw in her upcoming film Sam Bahadur, suggesting a pattern in his discontent with her adaptations. His literary work continues to resonate with readers, and he is currently working on more adaptations for the screen.

As Sikka’s criticisms gain traction, observers are keen to see how this will affect the reception of Gulzar’s future projects and whether further adaptations of his works will be met with similar scrutiny. Details remain unconfirmed regarding any potential responses from Gulzar or her team regarding Sikka’s allegations.

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