Veteran filmmaker Sudhir Mishra on Wednesday, 28 October publicly called out airline IndiGo after his checked baggage — containing medicines and daily essentials — was left behind at Delhi while he was travelling to Dharamshala. Mishra said he was later told the bag would reach him via Chandigarh by evening, a workaround he described as deeply frustrating.

What Sudhir Mishra Said

Mishra took to social media platform X to vent his displeasure directly at the carrier. In his post, he wrote: "I've come to Dharamshala for the next few days, flying @IndiGo6E from Delhi. Upon arrival, I was told my luggage had been left behind in Delhi. Now I'm told it'll reach me via Chandigarh by evening. All my medicines and essentials are in that bag."

He followed up with a second line addressed to the airline: "Extremely disappointing and frustrating. @IndiGo6E." The filmmaker did not elaborate on the nature of the medicines involved, but the reference to prescription medication heightens the urgency of the complaint.

The Baggage Mishandling Issue

Mishandled baggage remains a recurring grievance against domestic carriers in India. Passengers travelling on medical requirements are particularly vulnerable when airlines fail to load checked-in bags on the correct flight. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandates that airlines compensate passengers for delayed baggage delivery, though enforcement and awareness of this provision remain patchy. It is not the first time IndiGo — India's largest airline by market share — has faced criticism over operational lapses on social media.

About Sudhir Mishra

Mishra is one of Hindi cinema's most critically respected directors. He began his career as an assistant director and scriptwriter on Kundan Shah's landmark comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron in 1983, before collaborating with directors such as Saeed Akhtar Mirza on Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! and Vidhu Vinod Chopra on Khamosh.

He made his directorial debut in 1987 with Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin, which earned him the National Film Award for Best First Film of a Director. His subsequent filmography includes Dharavi, Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin, Chameli, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Khoya Khoya Chand, and Yeh Saali Zindagi, among others.

More recently, he wrote and directed Daas Dev starring Rahul Bhat and Richa Chaddha, directed the Indian adaptation of the Israeli series Hostages, and adapted Manu Joseph's novel Serious Men for which actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui received a nomination at the International Emmy Awards. His latest film, Afwaah, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bhumi Pednekar, Sharib Hashmi, Sumit Kaul, and Sumeet Vyas, was released on 5 May 2023.

What Happens Next

Mishra had not posted a follow-up confirming receipt of his luggage at the time of writing. The airline has yet to respond publicly to his posts. The incident adds to growing calls on social media for Indian carriers to improve baggage-handling standards, particularly for passengers with medical dependencies.