Actor Dia Mirza Rekhi has shared her thoughts on what makes the characters in the Netflix series Operation Safed Sagar truly heroic. She said the show’s heroes are not heroic because of how they walk or carry themselves. They are heroic because of what they do and the choices they make. The series, which tells the story of the Indian Air Force during the 1999 Kargil War, has been getting a lot of attention since its release.
Dia, who plays an Air Force wife in the show, explained why this approach to storytelling feels different from what audiences usually see.
Heroism Comes From Character, Not Swag
Dia Mirza Rekhi pointed out that Operation Safed Sagar stays away from loud and aggressive patriotism. She said the show’s refreshing take on heroism is one of the reasons viewers have connected with it.
“What’s interesting in this story and the heroism that we perceive is that they are heroic because of their acts and their choices. They’re not heroic because they walk with swag. Of course, they have natural swag, but it’s their character that defines their heroism, and their integrity and truth and what it is that they stand for, which is beautiful.”
She praised her male co-stars for their work on the show. Jimmy Shergill, Siddharth, Abhay Verma, Taaruk Raina, Mihir Ahuja, and Arnav Bhasin all play Air Force officers in the series. Dia said the women on set had an easier time because their work did not require as much physical effort.
“I think the women had it a lot easier on set because our work environment was simpler. We didn’t have to kind of put ourselves out there physically as much as the men in the story did. And they were really out there physically from 50° temperatures to -20, which was the lowest temperature they shot in.”
She added that the male cast members never complained about the tough conditions. She said the heroism and masculinity in the story come from quietly accepting uncertainty and staying true to what they believe in.
“The crew, the cast, the boys, I’ve not heard them talk about it once because the heroism, the masculinity of the story is in the quiet acceptance of uncertainty and the spirit of truth that resonates beyond it.”
Playing the Wife of an Air Force Officer
In Operation Safed Sagar, Dia Mirza Rekhi plays Kamalpreet Kaur Dhanoa, the wife of Wing Commander B S ‘Tony’ Dhanoa. Her character serves as an emotional anchor for the families of Air Force officers during the war. Dia said playing this role gave her a deeper understanding of what life is like for military families.
“It’s time that we spend understanding what it may be like to be married into the Air Force, because you don’t marry just the person you’re marrying. You marry into the community. You marry into an entirely different way of life.”
She described how military families live in isolated communities and do not interact with everyday life the way most people do. The uncertainty of their lives is something others cannot fully understand.
“To live with that constant reminder that today may be the last time you see your spouse, every single day of your life, I can’t even imagine how hard that must be. It was a very humbling experience.”
At the trailer launch, Dia spoke about the resilience of Air Force wives and how their courage inspired her. She shared a powerful detail about the lives of these women.
“Every single day when their husbands step out of the home they bid them goodbye with a smile on their face even if they’ve had the biggest fight the night before.”
She called it a terrifying but powerful reality.
The Story Behind Operation Safed Sagar
Operation Safed Sagar is a six-episode series that tells the story of the Indian Air Force’s Golden Arrows Squadron during the 1999 Kargil War. The series focuses on the courage, pressure, and sacrifice involved in carrying out missions at extreme altitudes. It also explores the human experiences behind the operation, including the families who waited and prayed for their loved ones.
The series is directed by Oni Sen and created by Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Kushal Srivastava. It is produced by Sanjay Routray and Sarita Patil from Matchbox Shots LLP and Mehboob Pal Singh Brar from Feel Good Films. The cast includes Jimmy Shergill, Siddharth, Abhay Verma, Prajakta Koli, Adil Hussain, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin, and Amrita Bagchi.
The Grand Premiere in New Delhi
Netflix hosted a special premiere of Operation Safed Sagar at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on August 6. The event marked Netflix’s 10-year anniversary in India. The premiere brought together the cast, creators, and distinguished guests from the Indian defence establishment. Mandira Bedi hosted the event, which included a screening of the first episode. A video message from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was played, and Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth attended the event.
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos spoke at the event and described Operation Safed Sagar as Netflix India’s biggest and most ambitious production to date. He revealed that the production contributed more than $24 million (approximately Rs 215 crore) to the Indian economy. The series also involved significant investment in visual effects and creative technology.
Dia’s Approach to Choosing Roles
Dia Mirza Rekhi has had three releases this year: Alpha, Ikka, and Operation Safed Sagar. In all three, she plays relatively small roles. But she said she does not choose roles based on screen time.
“Evaluating whether you want to make time and be a part of a story should never be determined by the length of the part. I think it should be determined by the resonance or the truth you find in it.”
She admitted that in the first five years of her career, she turned down good work because the roles were not long enough. But she has not made that mistake in the last 20 years.
“Over the years, I did films like Parineeta, Lage Raho Munna Bhai and many others. I had never ever decided whether I want to play a part based on its length. Length and screen-time really don’t matter. What matters is how my character anchors the story.”
She also praised director Oni Sen for his treatment of the story and the series for its balanced and humanistic messaging.
Dia’s Son Knows the Difference Between MiG and Sukhoi
In an exclusive interview with Zoom, Dia revealed that her five-year-old son Avyaan Azaad Rekhi knows the difference between a MiG and a Sukhoi based on their sounds. While shooting at the Nal Air Force Station, she would tell him stories and help him understand the different sounds of the aircraft.
“When I was shooting for Operation Safed Sagar at the Nal Air Force Station, I would tell him stories, and he would also hear sounds of MiG and Sukhoi. I would make him understand the difference between the sounds.”
She said she always tells Avyaan about the stories she is working on.
Related:
Where to Watch Operation Safed Sagar
Operation Safed Sagar is available for streaming on Netflix. The series premiered globally on August 7. Viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and around the world can watch the series on the platform.
Stay connected with VvipTimes for the latest updates from the world of entertainment. We bring you the stories that matter, from OTT releases to celebrity interviews and everything in between.
Leave a Reply