Siddharth on 'Operation Safed Sagar': Flying MiGs and training with IAF pilots
Synopsis
For the Netflix series 'Operation Safed Sagar', actor Siddharth and his crew were reportedly among the last civilians to conduct pre-flight checks on a real IAF Mi-21 before its retirement — and watched serving IAF pilots take off and land MiGs for the production. It is a level of military access rarely granted to an Indian entertainment project.
Key Takeaways
Actor Siddharth stars as a fighter pilot in 'Operation Safed Sagar' , now streaming on Netflix .
The cast performed pre-flight checks on a real IAF Mi-21 aircraft before its retirement — reportedly among the last to handle the machine.
Serving Indian Air Force pilots flew, landed, and took off in MiGs as part of the production's technical preparation.
The series is based on Operation Safed Sagar , launched on 26 May 1999 during the Kargil War — the first large-scale IAF airpower deployment in J&K since 1971 .
Aircraft featured include the MiG-27 , MiG-21 , Mirage 2000 , and Mi-17 helicopters .
Actor Siddharth, who portrays a fighter pilot in the newly released streaming series 'Operation Safed Sagar', has opened up about the extraordinary access the production received from the Indian Air Force (IAF) — including hands-on time with actual MiG aircraft before their retirement. The series is now streaming on Netflix.
An Unprecedented Behind-the-Scenes Access
Speaking during promotional events in the BKC area of Mumbai alongside co-stars Jimmy Shergill, Mihir Ahuja, and Arnav Bhasin, Siddharth recalled the remarkable preparation the cast underwent. 'The air force also gave us so much. Just imagine you are actually doing your pre-flight check on an actual Mi-21 before it was retired. So we were the last to get our hands on those machines,' he said.
He further elaborated on the level of immersion: 'Our crew has actually had pilots from the Indian Air Force fly MiGs in short. Land MiGs, take-off MiGs. Who gets all this? So at that time, if you want to act as a pilot, if you don't even do that, then, brother, something is very wrong.'
What the Series Is Based On
Operation Safed Sagar was the codename for the IAF's combined arms campaign during the 1999 Kargil War, mounted in support of the Indian Army to dislodge regular and irregular Pakistani troops from vacated Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kargil sector. Historians note it was the first large-scale deployment of airpower in Jammu and Kashmir since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
The operation was launched on 26 May 1999, after initial ground advances encountered stiff resistance on high-altitude peaks. Flying under strict orders not to cross the LoC, the IAF deployed the MiG-27, MiG-21, Mirage 2000, and Mi-17 helicopters. Precision strikes by the Mirage 2000 dismantled enemy bunkers, supply routes, and logistics hubs, enabling Indian Army units to recapture strategic heights and contributing decisively to India's victory.
The Cast and Production
The series features a multi-starrer ensemble with Jimmy Shergill, Mihir Ahuja, and Arnav Bhasin alongside Siddharth. The production's access to decommissioned IAF hardware and serving pilots for technical consultation sets it apart from earlier dramatisations of the Kargil conflict.
Why It Matters
Siddharth's account underscores a growing trend of Indian defence productions securing unprecedented cooperation from the armed forces — a shift that adds authenticity but also raises questions about the nature and extent of institutional involvement in entertainment narratives. With Kargil-themed content gaining traction on streaming platforms, 'Operation Safed Sagar' arrives as both a tribute and a test of how faithfully cinema can reconstruct a defining chapter of modern Indian military history.
Point of View
Particularly around Kargil. What deserves scrutiny is the nature of that partnership: creative control, editorial independence, and whether the series presents a complete historical picture or a curated one. Siddharth's candid enthusiasm is compelling, but the real story here is the unprecedented military-entertainment alignment, and whether audiences are getting drama or doctrine.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Operation Safed Sagar' on Netflix?
'Operation Safed Sagar' is a streaming series on Netflix dramatising the Indian Air Force's combined arms campaign during the 1999 Kargil War. The operation, launched on 26 May 1999, was the first large-scale use of IAF airpower in Jammu and Kashmir since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
How did actor Siddharth prepare for his role as a fighter pilot?
Siddharth and the production crew were granted access to actual IAF aircraft, including conducting pre-flight checks on a Mi-21 before its retirement. Serving IAF pilots also flew, landed, and took off in MiGs as part of the technical preparation for the series.
Who are the other actors in 'Operation Safed Sagar'?
The series features an ensemble cast including Jimmy Shergill, Mihir Ahuja, and Arnav Bhasin alongside Siddharth. Promotional events were held in the BKC area of Mumbai.
What was the real Operation Safed Sagar?
Operation Safed Sagar was the Indian Air Force's codename for its air campaign during the 1999 Kargil War, supporting the Indian Army in flushing out Pakistani troops from positions along the Line of Control. The IAF deployed MiG-27, MiG-21, Mirage 2000, and Mi-17 helicopters, with Mirage 2000 precision strikes proving decisive in weakening Pakistani defences.
Where can I watch 'Operation Safed Sagar'?
'Operation Safed Sagar' is available to stream on Netflix.
