‘Raazi’ book author Harinder Sikka slams Meghna Gulzar once more; Despite clear warnings, I failed to foresee'

Harinder S Sikka, famed for his 2008 spy thriller ‘Calling Sehmat’, adapted into the 2018 Alia Bhatt film ‘Raazi’, posted on X about how his book remains a top espionage read. Sikka posted a list of books on real espionage stories.

His novel Calling Sehmat appeared in the stack. Based on true events, the book follows Sehmat, a young woman trained by R&AW at her father's behest to infiltrate as an undercover spy by marrying into a Pakistani military family. Living a double life in Pakistan, she passes crucial intel to India before the 1971 India-Pakistan War.

Harinder Sikka blasts Meghna Gulzar

Sikka, once an Indian Navy officer, took to his social media handle and slammed ‘Raazi’ filmmaker Meghna Gulzar for injecting "ideological bias" into the screen version of his novel.

"Calling Sehmat #Raazi ranks among the top books on espionage ever written, globally. It exposes Pakistan across the border, hostile forces in Bollywood & Punjab-based criminals within. Appointing Meghna Gulzar was my gravest misjudgement.

Despite clear warnings, I failed to foresee how ideological bias would end up diminishing the true spirit of the protagonist. Nearly two decades later, the book continues to leave its mark across the world.

Penguin best sellers; Vichhoda, Gobind, The Chabimaster are being scripted, for our beautiful nation deserves to see the complete truth," he wrote.

Harinder Sikka on user backlash

A user hit back at Sikka's post, calling his regrets too late, prompting him to admit many had cautioned against Meghna Gulzar. Someone else pointed out her mishandling of ‘Sam Bahadur’, the biopic where Vicky Kaushal played Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Sikka concurred, responding: "The way Meghna Gulzar twisted the story through a leftist lens still pains me deeply.

Film on the legendary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was no different.

All the ugly #CONgress acts of ill treating the Field Marshal were missing. What kind of mindset diminishes patriots by bending truth to suit an agenda?".

Harinder Sikka's past Meghna Gulzar attack

Sikka has gone after Meghna Gulzar before about twisting Calling Sehmat into ‘Raazi’. In 2020, he accused her of modifying his original narrative for the movie. "At #Gulzar request, I signed @meghnagulzar as #Raazi Director. Why was the story tempered? Why was Tri-Colour not shown? Why was an attempt made to remove me from JLF? Why was the book launch delayed? Why was my name removed from fb, Twitter, and the media? Can we let more #SushantSinghRajput die?" he wrote on X at the time.

Meghna Gulzar stays quiet

Meghna Gulzar has stayed silent on Sikka's allegations to date.