‘I didn’t want to do injustice to a martyr’: Siddharth on ‘Operation Safed Sagar’

Actor Siddharth revealed that he was initially reluctant to take on the role of Kargil War hero Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja in Netflix's upcoming series ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, saying he feared doing "injustice" to the memory of a real-life martyr.

Speaking at the trailer launch, the actor admitted that portraying someone who sacrificed their life for the country felt very different from playing a fictional character.

"I didn't want to do injustice to somebody's memory," Siddharth said, explaining that he was concerned about presenting the officer with honesty rather than turning him into a larger-than-life hero.

He added that he spent considerable time discussing the role with the creators to ensure the portrayal stayed true to Ajay Ahuja's legacy. Siddharth also said one of his first questions was whether Ahuja's wife, Alka Ahuja, had approved the project, as her support was important before he agreed to be part of the series.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Shergill asks, "who will fight for the Nation?"

Co-star Jimmy Shergill also made headlines with his comments about the younger generation's changing aspirations.

Reflecting on the significance of ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, Shergill said the series highlights the Indian Air Force's contribution during the 1999 Kargil War, an aspect he believes many people are still unaware of.

He recalled that as a student he had hoped to join the armed forces and even scored 90% in school, but could not qualify because of the intense competition.

Shergill went on to express concern that fewer young people now dream of serving in the military.

"Everyone wants to do films. All have been given a phone, and they just want to make reels on it, but who will fight for the nation then?" he said.

He also defended stories based on real events, arguing that authentic accounts deserve to be told and should not be dismissed.

The series features Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill, Dia Mirza, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin, Abhay Verma and Prajakta Koli, and is set to premiere on Netflix on August 7.