Abhay Verma on Operation Safed Sagar: 'I failed as a citizen'
Synopsis
Abhay Verma didn't just play a war hero — he says the role exposed him as someone who had been taking his freedom for granted. His admission that he 'failed as a citizen' before doing 'Operation Safed Sagar' is a rare moment of unscripted honesty in the middle of a streaming promotional cycle.
Key Takeaways
Abhay Verma plays Wing Commander Rajpal Singh Dhaliwal in Netflix series 'Operation Safed Sagar' .
Operation Safed Sagar was the Indian Air Force's combat role during the 1999 Kargil War — the first large-scale IAF deployment in Jammu and Kashmir since 1971 .
Verma was one year old when India won the Kargil War on 26 July 1999 .
The actor said he 'failed as a citizen' before understanding the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families. 'Operation Safed Sagar' is currently streaming on Netflix .
Actor Abhay Verma, who portrays Wing Commander Rajpal Singh Dhaliwal in the Netflix streaming series 'Operation Safed Sagar', says learning about the real Indian Air Force operation that inspired the show has left him deeply humbled and filled with a sense of gratitude he had never felt before. The actor spoke after the series went live on the platform.
The Operation Behind the Series
Operation Safed Sagar was a combined arms offensive launched by the Indian Air Force in support of Indian Army ground units during the 1999 Kargil War. Its objective was to flush out regular and irregular Pakistani troops who had occupied vacated Indian positions in the Kargil sector along the Line of Control. Notably, it marked the first large-scale deployment of airpower in Jammu and Kashmir since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Verma's Personal Connection to Kargil
Verma was barely a year old when India declared victory in the Kargil War on 26 July 1999. 'I was one year, one day old when we won the Kargil war on July 26, 1999. So I don't have any memory as such but we were taught in schools about the Kargil war. I was really fascinated with what must have happened. Little did I know that I would do Operation Safed Sagar, and I would play one of the courageous soldiers in our Indian Air Force to depict the story,' he said.
A Moment of Reckoning
Preparing for the role prompted a deeper reckoning for the actor. 'After knowing Operation Safed Sagar as a story and whatever happened, I would like to say that I failed as a citizen. Understanding what our heroes and soldiers have put in line — their life, and their family — for us,' Verma said. He added that the experience gave him two reasons for gratitude: being part of a country like India, and a renewed appreciation for everyday comforts that most people take for granted.
What the Show Means to Him
'Now I feel really extremely grateful for two reasons. First, I'm a part of a country like India. Second, everything around me — I'm very grateful for. I'm grateful for the glass of water. We're sitting in air conditioning. It's all no less than a blessing which we take for granted every now and then. So those two things are really close to me,' Verma said. The candour of that reflection stands out in an entertainment landscape where promotional interviews rarely veer into personal accountability.
Where to Watch
'Operation Safed Sagar' is currently streaming on Netflix. As Indian streaming platforms increasingly turn to military history for content, the series joins a growing slate of patriotic dramas that aim to bring lesser-known chapters of India's defence history to younger audiences who, like Verma himself, were too young to witness the events firsthand.
Point of View
Streaming drama. Whether that gap is being closed with historical rigour or patriotic spectacle is a question the series itself will have to answer. The real Operation Safed Sagar was a tactically complex and costly campaign; the risk with dramatisation is always that sacrifice becomes aesthetic.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Abhay Verma in 'Operation Safed Sagar'?
Abhay Verma plays Wing Commander Rajpal Singh Dhaliwal in the Netflix series 'Operation Safed Sagar', a dramatisation of the Indian Air Force's role in the 1999 Kargil War. It is one of his most prominent roles to date.
What was Operation Safed Sagar?
Operation Safed Sagar was a combined arms operation launched by the Indian Air Force to support Indian Army ground forces during the 1999 Kargil War. It aimed to recapture Indian positions in the Kargil sector and was the first large-scale use of airpower in Jammu and Kashmir since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
Where can I watch the 'Operation Safed Sagar' series?
'Operation Safed Sagar' is currently available to stream on Netflix. The series was released recently and follows the Indian Air Force's combat operations during the Kargil War of 1999.
Why did Abhay Verma say he 'failed as a citizen'?
Verma said that before researching the role, he had not fully appreciated the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers and their families. He described the realisation as humbling and said it gave him a renewed sense of gratitude for everyday comforts that most people take for granted.
How old was Abhay Verma during the Kargil War?
Abhay Verma was one year and one day old when India declared victory in the Kargil War on 26 July 1999. He has said he has no personal memory of the conflict and learned about it through school.
