Amid ‘Dhurandhar 2’ Success, ‘Raazi’ Book Author Harinder Sikka SLAMS Meghna Gulzar for ‘Ideological Bias’ in Alia Bhatt’s 2018 Film (View Post)

Harinder Sikka, the retired naval officer and author of the acclaimed espionage novel Calling Sehmat, has reignited his long-standing feud with filmmaker Meghna Gulzar. Amid the massive box-office success of the spy-thriller Dhurandhar: The Revenge, Sikka took to social media to label his decision to let Gulzar direct the 2018 film Raazi as his "gravest misjudgment," citing deep-seated ideological differences. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge Box Office Day 12: Ranveer Singh’s Action-Thriller Surpasses INR 1,013.93 Crore Gross Milestone in India Amid Sustained Momentum.

Harinder Sikka Slams Meghna Gulzar for Alia Bhatt’s ‘Raazi’

In a strongly worded statement shared on social media, Harinder Sikka expressed deep regret over the creative direction of Raazi. Despite the film's critical and commercial success—and Alia Bhatt's acclaimed performance Sikka claims the adaptation suffered from an "ideological bias" that compromised the source material’s intent.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sikka described the selection of Gulzar as a significant error in judgment. He wrote: "Calling Sehmat #Raazi ranks among the top books on espionage ever written, globally. It exposes Pakistan across border, hostile forces in Bollywood & a Punjab-based criminals within. Appointing Meghna Gulzar was my gravest misjudgment. Despite clear warnings, I failed to foresee how ideological bias would end up diminishing the true spirit of the protagonist."

The author's primary grievance centres on the portrayal of the protagonist, Sehmat, an Indian spy sent to Pakistan. While the book concludes with Sehmat returning to India with a sense of pride and duty, the film depicted her as being traumatised and disillusioned by her actions, a change Sikka has long argued weakens the character's patriotic resolve.

Harinder Sikka Regrets Working with Meghna Gulzar in ‘Raazi’

Literary Longevity and Future Adaptations

Despite his frustrations with the film industry, Sikka noted that his literary works continue to resonate with a global audience. He highlighted that nearly twenty years after its release, Calling Sehmat remains a benchmark in the espionage genre.

Sikka also teased several upcoming projects that aim to bring "the complete truth" to the screen. He confirmed that several of his other Penguin bestsellers, including Vichhoda, Gobind, and The Chabimaster, are currently being scripted for future productions.

"Nearly two decades later, the book continues to leave its mark across the world," Sikka stated. "Our beautiful nation deserves to see the complete truth."

More About the ‘Raazi’ Controversy

The friction between Sikka and the makers of Raazi is not entirely new. Following the film's release, the author had previously alleged that he was sidelined during the promotion of the movie and that certain factual elements regarding the Indian intelligence community were diluted. Mukesh Chhabra Credits ‘Dhurandhar’ Success for Changing Respect Towards Casting Department.

These recent comments coincide with the success of Sikka’s latest literary ventures. By revisiting the Raazi controversy now, the author appears to be setting a new standard for how his future works, specifically those involving national security and historical truths, should be handled by production houses.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 31, 2026 11:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).