Harinder Sikka, the author behind the espionage masterpiece ‘Calling Sehmat’, has dropped a bombshell of his own. In a candid confession on X, Sikka called his decision to have Meghna Gulzar direct ‘Raazi’, the Alia Bhatt-starrer “his gravest misjudgment.” Yes, the same “Raazi” that won hearts and awards back in 2018.
Sikka, who’s riding the wave of the recent success of ‘Dhurandhar’, shared a picture of his espionage library. Stacked neatly were titles like ‘An Indian Spy in Pakistan’, ‘Plot, Lies & Deceit Pulwama & Balakot’, ‘Terrorism and Insurgency’, and, of course, ‘Calling Sehmat’. Over the image, a caption read: “Dhurandhar 2 gave you a cinematic glimpse. Here’s where the real story begins.”
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… pic.twitter.com/RZHxAwdmSq
— Harinder S Sikka (@sikka_harinder) March 29, 2026
He didn’t hold back, writing that his book ranks among the top espionage works globally. It shines a light on cross-border tensions, hostile forces in Bollywood, and criminal networks in Punjab. But, according to Sikka, the film adaptation didn’t do justice to the essence of the story.
“’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,” he wrote.
Why Meghna Gulzar? A misstep?
The real controversy lies in the director’s chair. Sikka admitted that he ignored warnings about ideological biases that could affect the portrayal of his protagonist. The result? He believes the film diluted the true spirit of Calling Sehmat herself.
“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,” he confessed.
Even with his disappointment, Sikka is proud of how his work continues to resonate. Nearly 20 years after ‘Calling Sehmat’ first hit the shelves, it remains a bestseller and an essential read for espionage enthusiasts worldwide. Sikka hinted at more adaptations in the future, teasing titles like ‘Vichhoda’, ‘Gobind’, and ‘The Chabimaster’.
“Nearly two decades later, the book continues to leave its mark across the world. Penguin best sellers; Vichhoda, Gobind, The Chabimaster are being scripted, for our beautiful nation deserves to see the complete truth,” he wrote.
The story behind ‘Raazi’
For those who may have missed it, ‘Raazi’ follows the story of a young woman, Sehmat, who becomes a RAW agent at her father’s request. She marries into a Pakistani military family to relay critical intelligence to India before the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Alia Bhatt played Sehmat, with Vicky Kaushal, Rajit Kapur, Shishir Sharma, and Jaideep Ahlawat rounding out the cast.