Actor Siddharth breaks down as martyr's wife thanks Operation Safed Sagar team
At the Mumbai trailer launch of Operation Safed Sagar, Siddharth broke down after Alka Ahuja thanked the team. The exchange underscored the care taken to portray Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja with integrity.
Actor Siddharth turned emotional at the trailer launch of Operation Safed Sagar after late Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja's wife, Alka Ahuja, thanked the makers for bringing her husband's story to the screen. The event, held in Mumbai on Sunday, also saw several serving and retired Indian Air Force officers in attendance.
Alka was invited to the stage during the interaction, with the audience standing to acknowledge her presence.
Addressing her, Siddharth thanked her for placing her trust in the makers.
"Yesterday, Abhijeet Parmar and I spoke for a long time. We spoke about you a lot. Thank you so much for giving us permission to tell this story. We would not have done it without you," he said.
Responding to the actor, Alka said, "I don't have any videos of Ajay. At least, I have an image of Ajay now."
Her words visibly moved Siddharth, who struggled to hold back tears on stage.
'Heroes don't always look like heroes'
Speaking about taking on the role, Siddharth admitted he was initially hesitant to portray a real-life war hero.
"My first reaction was hesitation. When you portray someone who is no longer here, especially a martyr, there is a huge responsibility. They are not here to defend themselves or question your interpretation," he said.
He added that he wanted to avoid presenting an idealised version of the character.
"We often tend to whitewash our heroes. But heroes don't always look like heroes. They become heroes because of their actions. I didn't want to do injustice to somebody's memory."
The actor said he had several discussions with the makers before agreeing to the project and had one key question.
"I only asked one thing: 'Did she allow it?' That mattered the most to me," he said, referring to Alka Ahuja's approval.
Siddharth jokes about his arm injury
Siddharth also addressed the sling on his arm after being asked about it.
"It's just because of a small operation. Regular wear and tear. Old age bolte hain isko (It's called old age)," he joked, drawing laughter from the audience.
Earlier at the same event, some of the younger cast members had spoken about growing up watching Siddharth's films. Playing along, the actor quipped, "Bachpan se meri filmein dekhte aa rahe hain yeh log. Toh zaahir si baat hai kahin na kahin toh chot lagna hi hai (These people have been watching my films since childhood. So, obviously, bound to get hurt)," before clarifying that he was joking.
He later turned to co-actor Adil Hussain and added another light-hearted remark: "I have grown up watching Adil sir. And because he has done such selective work, I have grown up very slowly."
About Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja
Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was an Indian Air Force officer who was killed during the 1999 Kargil War. He was shot down while flying a mission to locate a fellow pilot whose aircraft had crashed. Ahuja was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra for his courage and service, and is remembered as one of the key figures of Operation Safed Sagar.
About Operation Safed Sagar
Operation Safed Sagar is based on the Indian Air Force's role during the Kargil War and follows the Golden Arrows Squadron, led by Wing Commander B.S. Dhanoa (Jimmy Shergill) and Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja (Siddharth). Directed by Oni Sen, the Netflix series also stars Abhay Verma, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Adil Hussain, Mihir Ahuja and Taaruk Raina. The makers said the series was developed through research and consultations with Indian Air Force veterans and families connected to the operation. It was filmed at Indian Air Force bases with access to Air Force aircraft and infrastructure to recreate the events surrounding Operation Safed Sagar.
The launch was attended by the film's cast, including Jimmy Shergill, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin and Amrita Bagchi, along with director Oni Sen, writer Abhijeet Singh Parmar, producers Sanjay Routray, Sarita Patil and Mehboob Pal Singh Brar, and Netflix executives Monika Shergill and Tanya Bami.
Operation Safed Sagar, based on events surrounding the Kargil conflict, is set to premiere on Netflix on August 7.
Actor Siddharth turned emotional at the trailer launch of Operation Safed Sagar after late Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja's wife, Alka Ahuja, thanked the makers for bringing her husband's story to the screen. The event, held in Mumbai on Sunday, also saw several serving and retired Indian Air Force officers in attendance.
Alka was invited to the stage during the interaction, with the audience standing to acknowledge her presence.
Addressing her, Siddharth thanked her for placing her trust in the makers.
"Yesterday, Abhijeet Parmar and I spoke for a long time. We spoke about you a lot. Thank you so much for giving us permission to tell this story. We would not have done it without you," he said.
Responding to the actor, Alka said, "I don't have any videos of Ajay. At least, I have an image of Ajay now."
Her words visibly moved Siddharth, who struggled to hold back tears on stage.
'Heroes don't always look like heroes'
Speaking about taking on the role, Siddharth admitted he was initially hesitant to portray a real-life war hero.
"My first reaction was hesitation. When you portray someone who is no longer here, especially a martyr, there is a huge responsibility. They are not here to defend themselves or question your interpretation," he said.
He added that he wanted to avoid presenting an idealised version of the character.
"We often tend to whitewash our heroes. But heroes don't always look like heroes. They become heroes because of their actions. I didn't want to do injustice to somebody's memory."
The actor said he had several discussions with the makers before agreeing to the project and had one key question.
"I only asked one thing: 'Did she allow it?' That mattered the most to me," he said, referring to Alka Ahuja's approval.
Siddharth jokes about his arm injury
Siddharth also addressed the sling on his arm after being asked about it.
"It's just because of a small operation. Regular wear and tear. Old age bolte hain isko (It's called old age)," he joked, drawing laughter from the audience.
Earlier at the same event, some of the younger cast members had spoken about growing up watching Siddharth's films. Playing along, the actor quipped, "Bachpan se meri filmein dekhte aa rahe hain yeh log. Toh zaahir si baat hai kahin na kahin toh chot lagna hi hai (These people have been watching my films since childhood. So, obviously, bound to get hurt)," before clarifying that he was joking.
He later turned to co-actor Adil Hussain and added another light-hearted remark: "I have grown up watching Adil sir. And because he has done such selective work, I have grown up very slowly."
About Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja
Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was an Indian Air Force officer who was killed during the 1999 Kargil War. He was shot down while flying a mission to locate a fellow pilot whose aircraft had crashed. Ahuja was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra for his courage and service, and is remembered as one of the key figures of Operation Safed Sagar.
About Operation Safed Sagar
Operation Safed Sagar is based on the Indian Air Force's role during the Kargil War and follows the Golden Arrows Squadron, led by Wing Commander B.S. Dhanoa (Jimmy Shergill) and Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja (Siddharth). Directed by Oni Sen, the Netflix series also stars Abhay Verma, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Adil Hussain, Mihir Ahuja and Taaruk Raina. The makers said the series was developed through research and consultations with Indian Air Force veterans and families connected to the operation. It was filmed at Indian Air Force bases with access to Air Force aircraft and infrastructure to recreate the events surrounding Operation Safed Sagar.
The launch was attended by the film's cast, including Jimmy Shergill, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin and Amrita Bagchi, along with director Oni Sen, writer Abhijeet Singh Parmar, producers Sanjay Routray, Sarita Patil and Mehboob Pal Singh Brar, and Netflix executives Monika Shergill and Tanya Bami.
Operation Safed Sagar, based on events surrounding the Kargil conflict, is set to premiere on Netflix on August 7.
Actor Siddharth turned emotional at the trailer launch of Operation Safed Sagar after late Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja's wife, Alka Ahuja, thanked the makers for bringing her husband's story to the screen. The event, held in Mumbai on Sunday, also saw several serving and retired Indian Air Force officers in attendance.
Alka was invited to the stage during the interaction, with the audience standing to acknowledge her presence.
Addressing her, Siddharth thanked her for placing her trust in the makers.
"Yesterday, Abhijeet Parmar and I spoke for a long time. We spoke about you a lot. Thank you so much for giving us permission to tell this story. We would not have done it without you," he said.
Responding to the actor, Alka said, "I don't have any videos of Ajay. At least, I have an image of Ajay now."
Her words visibly moved Siddharth, who struggled to hold back tears on stage.
'Heroes don't always look like heroes'
Speaking about taking on the role, Siddharth admitted he was initially hesitant to portray a real-life war hero.
"My first reaction was hesitation. When you portray someone who is no longer here, especially a martyr, there is a huge responsibility. They are not here to defend themselves or question your interpretation," he said.
He added that he wanted to avoid presenting an idealised version of the character.
"We often tend to whitewash our heroes. But heroes don't always look like heroes. They become heroes because of their actions. I didn't want to do injustice to somebody's memory."
The actor said he had several discussions with the makers before agreeing to the project and had one key question.
"I only asked one thing: 'Did she allow it?' That mattered the most to me," he said, referring to Alka Ahuja's approval.
Siddharth jokes about his arm injury
Siddharth also addressed the sling on his arm after being asked about it.
"It's just because of a small operation. Regular wear and tear. Old age bolte hain isko (It's called old age)," he joked, drawing laughter from the audience.
Earlier at the same event, some of the younger cast members had spoken about growing up watching Siddharth's films. Playing along, the actor quipped, "Bachpan se meri filmein dekhte aa rahe hain yeh log. Toh zaahir si baat hai kahin na kahin toh chot lagna hi hai (These people have been watching my films since childhood. So, obviously, bound to get hurt)," before clarifying that he was joking.
He later turned to co-actor Adil Hussain and added another light-hearted remark: "I have grown up watching Adil sir. And because he has done such selective work, I have grown up very slowly."
About Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja
Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja was an Indian Air Force officer who was killed during the 1999 Kargil War. He was shot down while flying a mission to locate a fellow pilot whose aircraft had crashed. Ahuja was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra for his courage and service, and is remembered as one of the key figures of Operation Safed Sagar.
About Operation Safed Sagar
Operation Safed Sagar is based on the Indian Air Force's role during the Kargil War and follows the Golden Arrows Squadron, led by Wing Commander B.S. Dhanoa (Jimmy Shergill) and Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja (Siddharth). Directed by Oni Sen, the Netflix series also stars Abhay Verma, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Adil Hussain, Mihir Ahuja and Taaruk Raina. The makers said the series was developed through research and consultations with Indian Air Force veterans and families connected to the operation. It was filmed at Indian Air Force bases with access to Air Force aircraft and infrastructure to recreate the events surrounding Operation Safed Sagar.
The launch was attended by the film's cast, including Jimmy Shergill, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin and Amrita Bagchi, along with director Oni Sen, writer Abhijeet Singh Parmar, producers Sanjay Routray, Sarita Patil and Mehboob Pal Singh Brar, and Netflix executives Monika Shergill and Tanya Bami.
Operation Safed Sagar, based on events surrounding the Kargil conflict, is set to premiere on Netflix on August 7.
