The Indian Air Force Wednesday took to voicing its displeasure with the Anil Kapoor-Anurag Kashyap starrer AK vs AK, whose trailer was launched on December 7. Prior to the launch of the trailer, Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap indulged in a predictably boring Twitter slugfest, raising ears among netizens about what was really going on between the two personalities. With the release of the trailer, however, audiences were convinced that what they saw was a well-crafted publicity stunt for AK vs AK, in which the two play the role of foes.
However, the trailer and the buzz it created, whether positive or negative soon became the least of the concerns for Netflix India, Anil Kapoor, and as described in the trailer of the film, ‘sasta’ Quentin Tarantino – Anurag Kashyap. The Indian Air Force no less than took grave offence to the content of the trailer, use of improper and unparliamentary language and donning of the IAF uniform incorrectly. They also called for the given scenes to be cut out from the film immediately.
The official handle of the Indian Air Force took to Twitter and said, “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 The related scenes need to be withdrawn.” The handles of Netflix India and Anurag Kashyap were also tagged.
“At any time, in whatever way one is portraying the IAF, there is a prescribed procedure to take permission, which the filmmakers had not taken,” a source in the IAF told the Indian Express.
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 The related scenes need to be withdrawn.@NetflixIndia @anuragkashyap72#AkvsAk https://t.co/F6PoyFtbuB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
Having been thrashed by the Indian Air Force no less, Anil Kapoor issued a video apology for the evident mistakes in the trailer of AK vs AK, and as a consequence, the entire film. Meanwhile, Anurag Kashyap and Netflix India have maintained a stony silence on the issue after being called out by IAF. In his apology, Kapoor said his character in the film was that of an actor playing the role of an officer. “When he finds out that his daughter has been kidnapped, the anger and rage he experiences and portrays are that of an emotionally distraught father…. It was never my intent or the intent of the filmmakers to disrespect the IAF,” he said. Of course, on the issue of the incorrect portrayal of the IAF uniform and usage of improper language, Kapoor issued no clarification.
@IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/rGjZcD9bCT
— Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) December 9, 2020
The film AK vs AK is set around the events of one fateful night, where Anil Kapoor’s daughter Sonam Kapoor is kidnapped by Anurag Kashyap. The role played by Anil Kapoor in the film is that of an actor shooting in the role of IAF personnel. Upon being informed about the kidnapping by Kashyap, Anil sets out on a race against time to rescue his daughter, which is why the uniform is seen throughout the film.
