EXCLUSIVE: “Made a blunder by handing Calling Sehmat to Meghna Gulzar to make Raazi,” says Harinder Sikka as Maddock Films buys rights of his next book Vichhoda

Author Harinder Sikka is also not happy with the way the song 'Ae Watan' was used in Raazi.

By Keyur Seta -

March 6, 2024 - 1:47 PM IST

Author Harinder Sikka’s book Calling Sehmat was made into Raazi by filmmaker Meghna Gulzar. The film starred Alia Bhatt in the lead, and it became a success at the box office. Now, the author’s next book Vichhoda is all set to be made into a film by producer Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films.

EXCLUSIVE: “Made a blunder by handing Calling Sehmat to Meghna Gulzar to make Raazi,” says Harinder Sikka as Maddock Films buys rights of his next book Vichhoda

In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Harinder Sikka said that he is treading carefully this time because his experience with Meghna Gulzar and Gulzar wasn’t a pleasant one. He said, “While dealing with my book Calling Sehmat to become Raazi, I made a blunder in handing it over to Meghna Gulzar. I was cautioned by many that she doesn’t keep her word. She took the story and pushed her negative agenda. I had promised Gulzar that I will make her daughter the director. A writer never does that. But I refused to sell the book (to anyone) unless and until Meghna was taken as director. Times Of India’s Junglee Pictures agreed for that.”

He added, “And what did she do? She changed the very crucial parts of the story to show as if a Kashmiri Muslim woman had done a blunder for fighting for India. She was brought (back to India) depressed. She was shown shouting at the intelligence agencies. And she never said I am doing it for my country. Everything was twisted and turned. There was the word ‘India’ to be used somewhere. She never used it. No tricolour was shown. The Pakistani flag was shown. She showed Pakistan Army in good light. But she questioned the Indian intelligence on why she was brought there, left alone, etc.”

Sikka also said that Meghna Gulzar cut all contact with him as soon as she got the rights of Calling Sehmat. “Till the film was being made, she called me, ‘Uncle, uncle…’ But as soon as she had all the rights, she disconnected me from her number and everything. I realized that it is not her mistake. She had done this earlier and she did it when Chhapaak was released, and she took away the writer’s credit. The writer, who is the lady lawyer (Aparna Bhat), went to Delhi High Court and won the case. All this might be common in Bollywood.”

Raazi is also known for the song ‘Ae Watan’. Harinder Sikka wasn’t happy with that as well. “The song that Gulzar wrote ‘Ae Watan Watan Mere Azad Rahe Tu’. That ‘Watan’ (in the song) suited more to Pakistan than India. It was meant more for Pakistani public,” he said and added, “All this made me realize that I should select the producer very carefully (for a film on his next book Vichhoda), I should be the co-producer and I should ensure that my creative input is taken on board and no hanky-panky happens.”

Harinder Sikka said that he has ensured that he doesn’t face disappointment again. “I pray it doesn’t. I have ensured it. I have Dinesh Vijan’s word. I am told by the industry that he keeps his word. When you get married, you sign all kinds of certificates, and you live with your wife. (But) sometimes it doesn’t get along. I am having tremendous faith in the God almighty all the time. I am doing my Karma but if it’s raining outside, one must carry an umbrella. You have to exercise caution. I have done that reality check with Maddock and Dinesh Vijan.”

Sikka has high hopes from Maddock’s film on Vichhoda. “People are calling it another Mother India in the making. It’s that powerful a story. I want the story to be told correctly, beautifully, cinematically and without any negativity; no hatred.”

Vichhoda is based on the real story of Bibi Amrit Kaur, whose story starts in 1947 and what all she undergoes later to reunite with her children. “It is an amazing feeling of how a mother, who was a Sikh and her children had to become Muslims for whatever reasons. But Godly love of a mother for her children never changes. And she goes and meets them before she hung her boots. The whole story is how she protected herself and saved herself from those who were attacking her,” said Sikka.

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