Siddharth on 'Operation Safed Sagar' pilot training: 'Most challenging shoot of my life'
Synopsis
Siddharth strapped into a hydraulic jet cockpit in full G-suit for 'Operation Safed Sagar' — and says it was the most physically demanding shoot of his career. The Netflix series dramatises the IAF's 1999 Kargil operation, the first large-scale use of Indian airpower in J&K since 1971, and streams from 7 August.
Key Takeaways
Siddharth plays an Indian Air Force pilot in 'Operation Safed Sagar' , streaming on Netflix from 7 August .
The series is based on the real 1999 Kargil War IAF operation — the first large-scale use of airpower in Jammu and Kashmir since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War .
Flight sequences were filmed using a hydraulic rig that replicates actual jet banking speeds, with actors in full flight gear including G-suits .
Siddharth called it his most challenging shoot, noting all cast members — including Jimmy Shergill , Mihir Ahuja , and Arnav Bhasin — faced significant physical demands.
The production design team recreated every cockpit detail; the rig runs on a computer programme requiring precise actor synchronisation.
Actor Siddharth has opened up about the gruelling physical preparation behind his role as an Indian Air Force pilot in the upcoming streaming series 'Operation Safed Sagar', set to premiere on Netflix on 7 August. Speaking during promotional events in the BKC area of Mumbai alongside co-stars Jimmy Shergill, Mihir Ahuja, and Arnav Bhasin, the actor described the shoot as unlike anything he had experienced before.
The Series and Its Historical Context
'Operation Safed Sagar' is a dramatisation of the eponymous 1999 Kargil War operation — the first large-scale deployment of airpower in the Jammu and Kashmir region since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The combined arms operation saw the Indian Air Force provide critical aerial support to Indian Army ground forces, with the objective of dislodging regular and irregular Pakistani troops from vacated Indian positions along the Line of Control in the Kargil sector.
Inside the Cockpit: How the Sequences Were Shot
Siddharth described a technically demanding production setup engineered to replicate actual jet flight conditions. 'Every detail was recreated by the production design team,' he said. 'The flight was installed on a hydraulic gear. So, all of us did the flight sequences in the first and second roles.'
The actor, who wore full flight gear including a G-suit throughout the sequences, explained the physical toll of the hydraulic rig: 'You sit in the cockpit, you are in full gear... The canopy is closed sometimes, or it's open. And the whole plane banks at the actual speed of a jet plane.' The rig, he noted, operates on a computer programme that requires the actor to move in precise synchronisation with the aircraft's motion — or risk a collision with the cockpit interior.
Why the Training Was Non-Negotiable
'It works on a computer program. So, you have to control it... you have to go in the exact direction at the exact speed that it's doing it. Otherwise, your head will hit because you will be moving in the opposite direction,' Siddharth explained. He called it 'very, very challenging,' adding that all cast members faced similar difficulties. 'The training was to make sure that you don't do anything wrong in any sequence or situation,' he said.
This is Siddharth's first project centred on the Air Force, and he acknowledged that the mode of filming was entirely new territory for him. The shared difficulty, he noted, became a bonding experience for the ensemble cast.
What to Expect from the Show
'Operation Safed Sagar' streams on Netflix from 7 August. The series marks one of the more ambitious Indian OTT productions to dramatise the Kargil conflict, a subject that has drawn renewed audience interest following the success of war-themed Indian content in recent years. With a cast that includes veterans like Jimmy Shergill alongside younger talent, the show is positioned as both a patriotic drama and an action-driven war series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Operation Safed Sagar' and where can I watch it?
'Operation Safed Sagar' is an Indian streaming series dramatising the 1999 Kargil War IAF operation of the same name. It premieres on Netflix on 7 August.
Who stars in 'Operation Safed Sagar'?
The series stars Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill, Mihir Ahuja, and Arnav Bhasin. Siddharth plays an Indian Air Force pilot.
What was the real Operation Safed Sagar?
Operation Safed Sagar was a combined arms operation during the 1999 Kargil War in which the Indian Air Force provided aerial support to Indian Army ground forces to dislodge Pakistani troops from positions along the Line of Control. It was the first large-scale use of airpower in Jammu and Kashmir since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
How did Siddharth train for his pilot role in the series?
Siddharth trained on a hydraulic rig that replicates real jet-banking speeds, wearing full flight gear including a G-suit. The rig is computer-controlled and requires actors to move in precise synchronisation with the simulated aircraft motion.
Why did Siddharth call the shoot 'very, very challenging'?
The hydraulic cockpit rig operates at actual jet-banking speeds, meaning any mistimed movement results in the actor's head hitting the cockpit interior. Siddharth said all cast members found the sequences physically demanding and that the training was essential to avoid errors during filming.
