Mirza: Audiences Love Jingoism Over Nuance

Actress Dia Mirza has commented on the growing audience preference for jingoism in films and series. She noted that her recent series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, was criticized for humanizing its characters, including terrorists. This contrasts sharply with the commercial success of the film Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which has been lauded for its patriotic themes.

Mirza explained on The Namrata Zakaria Show that viewers today seem to be "celebrating jingoism too much." She suggested that narratives focusing on aggressive patriotism are more favored than those offering a balanced or empathetic perspective. Her series, based on the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, aimed to explore the human and political complexities of the event from multiple viewpoints.

Despite the criticism, Mirza stated she does not regret her involvement in IC 814, asserting that art should explore complex issues and offer diverse perspectives. She acknowledged that such creative choices can attract trolling but stressed the importance of artists continuing to express themselves through storytelling.