Calling Sehmat author Harinder Sikka opens up on Sehmat and shares why he plans a sequel to the book and the cinematic adaptation, Raazi
A spiritual trance overpowered Harinder Sikka, the author of Calling Sehmat, as he shared with the Pink City that whatever the real ‘Sehmat’ (her identity hasn't still been revealed) did was for her nation. “She once told me that if you don't belong to your parents, then you belong to nobody. She converted parents to soil, dug up the essence of that soil and said that there were millions of saints in it,” said Sikka. “They all have gone away with the message of ‘peace,’ which is what Sehmat also wanted to convey, having done what she had done," he expressed. According to the author of the book that has been adapted into the Alia Bhatt starrer film Raazi, Sehmat wanted to convey the message, “Aap agar apni mitti ke nahi, toh kahin ke nahi.”
‘MOVIE SHOULD HAVE BEEN 15 MINS LONGER’
In a conversation with AFTERhrs, Sikka said that Sehmat has inspired him in many ways, the most important one being becoming fearless. It is from her that he learned ‘to take anybody without fear or favour’. When asked if he feels that the cinematic adaptation of the book has done justice to the book, he replied assertively, “If you read this book, you’ll find out what aspects are missing in the cinematic adaptation. The movie has been made with a commercial aspect in mind, and it has earned a lot. If they could have extended it for another 15 minutes and brought in the element of spiritualism, that would have given more essence to the movie.” This is why Sikka intends bring a sequel to this book and movie. He believes that he has been able to cover only about 20 per cent of her life in the first part and he would want to cast Angelina Jolie for the sequel so that it gets a global reach.
DEPRESSION DIDN'T KILL SEHMAT
The author went on to share that Sehmat did not die of depression; she was not that depressed that she couldn’t recover. “She recovered and she gave a message: The blooming of the flower has not been portrayed effectively because of certain constraints, and that essence could have been brought up. Though I am very happy with Alia’s innocence and that is my wife and I selected her for the role,” he shared. Even the real Sehmat approved of the choice. He had sent her a message that said Alia was to play the role, to which she responded with a ‘k’.
AN ANGEL, INNOCENT AND PURE
Sikka also described the personality of the real Sehmat as so innocent that if one saw her picture, they’ would have tears in their eyes. He said that she looked so pure and innocent that one wouldn't believe she could even kill a mosquito with her own hands. “She was no less than an angel who left her own son, and even her love who never married and waited for her. That doesn’t usually happen in our lives," he expressed.
"Her words that will stay with me forever are: Karma se nawaze raho. She is telling me time and again; don’t get away with karma," shared Sikka.
Sikka was in the city to take part in a discussion on the country’s unsung heroes, in an event organised by the Department of Archaeology and Museums in association with Rajat Book Corner and Penguin Books.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Alia Bhatt as Sehmat in Raazi; (right) Harinder Sikka")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}