Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and streaming platform Netflix have been slammed by the Indian Air Force for inaccurately presenting the air force uniform in the trailer of their upcoming “mockumentary drama Ak vs Ak”.
A mockumentary is a facetious or satirical work (such as a film) presented in the style of a documentary.
The IAF uniform in this video is inaccurately donned & the language used is inappropriate. This does not conform to the behavioural norms of those in the Armed Forces of India. The related scenes need to be withdrawn.@NetflixIndia @anuragkashyap72#AkvsAk https://t.co/F6PoyFtbuB
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 9, 2020
However, as per the film’s synopsis, Anil Kapoor is not playing the Air Force officer but playing himself (an actor) in the mockumentary drama.
The Indian air force has said that the language used by Anil Kapoor, who is wearing the Air Force uniform, does not “conform to the behavioral norms of those in the Armed Forces of India” while the character played by Anil Kapoor is not playing someone from an IAF commodore.
The synopsis of the film says that Ak Vs Ak is about “a brash film director (Anurag Kashyap, as himself) kidnaps the daughter of a movie star (Anil Kapoor, as himself) and films the star’s desperate search for his daughter in real-time as his next blockbuster”.
Anil Kapoor has been mistaken as playing an Indian Air Force officer in the film but he is dressed in an IAF uniform because he’s on set shooting a film when he is interrupted by Anurag Kashyap who confronts him in the Vanity Van. The actor is in a costume in the scene which has been objected by the Air Force.
No more fooling the audience please. As promised, the REAL narrative of #AKvsAK from the REAL AK.@VikramMotwane @netflix_in pic.twitter.com/c728E7AgHo
— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) December 7, 2020
The film scheduled to release on streaming platform Netflix on 24 December traces the journey of a film director Anurag Kashyap, as he kidnaps the daughter of Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor.
The IAF has demanded that the related scenes should be withdrawn. The controversy has divided the social media users as some have justified IAF’s statement while others have termed it as targeting creative freedom.
Dear IAF ..
Costume — NOT Uniform
Actor — NOT IAF Officer
Artist rules — NOT IAF rules
Reel — NOT RealNext what- target kids in fancy dress donning uniform costume
— shilpi tewari (@shilpitewari) December 9, 2020
Getting offended by trailers is the new India or what? I also expect the air force to not watch Netflix trailers and respond. Without having zero understanding of what the film is about they are taking offence.
— RationalHindu (@badweek4) December 9, 2020
Meanwhile, Netflix in a statement tweeted:
At no point does the film represent the Indian Air Force or our Armed Forces. We have nothing but the highest respect for the brave people protecting our nation.
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) December 9, 2020
Hon. @IAF_MCC, our intention would never be to disrespect the Armed Forces of India in any regard. AK Vs. AK is a film in which Anil Kapoor and his co-stars are playing themselves as actors.
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) December 9, 2020
