Actor Siddharth, who portrays Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja in Netflix’s “Operation Safed Sagar”, has reflected on the late Indian Air Force officer’s interests and personality while discussing his experience of working on the six-episode war drama. Siddharth said he came to understand Ahuja’s life beyond his military service and believed that, had he not become a soldier, he might have pursued a creative field such as art, imaging or photography.

Siddharth said he expected “Operation Safed Sagar” to have a strong impact, describing it as a project closely connected with its time and broader public sentiment. He noted that the response to such a project feels different, including the nature of messages and calls received after its release. The series focuses on the Indian Air Force’s role in Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil War and has received significant attention for its portrayal of the conflict.

The actor also spoke about the relationship between senior and junior Indian Air Force officers portrayed in the series. He observed that interactions between officers could appear remarkably natural, with differences in rank becoming less visible during everyday exchanges. Siddharth described this quality as one of the gentler aspects of the show, particularly in the way it presents professional relationships within the Air Force.

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“Operation Safed Sagar” is directed by Oni Sen and created by Kushal Srivastava and Abhijeet Singh Parmar. The series features Siddharth alongside Jimmy Shergill, Abhay Verma, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin and Amrita Bagchi, among others. The military drama also places considerable emphasis on aerial sequences, with the MiG-21 playing an important role in its depiction of the Indian Air Force’s operations during the Kargil conflict.

Siddharth’s portrayal of Ahuja is centred on the Squadron Leader’s role during the conflict. Ahuja was killed when his MiG-21 was hit while he was on a mission to locate a downed pilot during the Kargil War. He was subsequently awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously in recognition of his courage and sacrifice.

Discussing Ahuja’s personality, Siddharth recalled learning from the officer’s wife, Alka, that he had a strong interest in engineering, gadgets, photography and technical knowledge. Based on those details, the actor said he could imagine Ahuja pursuing photography or another creative discipline had he not joined the IAF. Siddharth said this aspect helped him view Ahuja not only as a military officer but also as an individual with interests and talents beyond his service.

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