‘Akelli’ producer Ninad Vaidya has opened up about the harrowing experience faced by actor Nushrratt Bharuccha during her stay in Israel, as she attended the Haifa International Film Festival when the conflict erupted. The actress along with the film's crew, including two Israeli artists, Saki Alimi and Amir Boutrous, found themselves during this terrifying ordeal. Their film ‘Akelli’ was showcased at the festival with Hebrew subtitles.
While speaking to IndiaToday.in Ninad mentioned that the festival had commenced on October 3, with screenings of ‘Akelli’ in Israel scheduled on October 4 and 5. Nushrratt and the team attended a film premiere in another city and embarked on a government-organized tour to places like Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. Their return flight to India was set for 10 p.m. on the 7th. However, on the morning of the 7th, Nushrratt called Ninad, informing him about the attack on Israel, which left everyone in a state of panic. During their phone conversations, air raid alarms went off three times, signaling missile launches, and Nushrratt described the tense atmosphere in Israel.
Despite the chaos, Nushrratt and the team received assistance from Mr. Vinod Pawar of the Indian Embassy. They fortunately found a taxi driver willing to transport them to the airport, even though nobody was allowed to be on the streets due to the unfolding crisis. Ninad compared the situation to the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, with empty streets and uncertainty prevailing.
Even upon reaching the airport, escaping Israel wasn't a cakewalk. Nushrratt's phone battery died, and the original Air India flight scheduled for 10 p.m. was unable to depart, leaving them stranded for hours. Eventually, Nushrratt and the team secured a connecting flight via Abu Dhabi to return to India.
After this traumatic experience, Nushrratt is now in a stable condition. The sudden attack that began on October 7, was a harrowing experience for her and the entire team, as they were trapped amid the conflict between Israel and Palestine.