Operation Safed Sagar Review: Siddharth and Jimmy Shergill Elevate a Powerful Kargil Air War Drama

Netflix’s six-episode series Operation Safed Sagar (also subtitled The Untold Story of the Kargil War) brings a lesser-seen chapter of the 1999 conflict into sharp focus: the Indian Air Force’s high-altitude campaign. Directed by Oni Sen and created by Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Kushal Srivastava, the show centres on the Golden Arrows squadron and the human cost of flying combat missions over the world’s highest battlefield.

Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja (Siddharth) is called in by Wing Commander B.S. Dhanoa “Tony” (Jimmy Shergill) to sharpen a group of young MiG-21 pilots. Early episodes capture the easy banter, rigorous training and everyday rhythms of squadron life even as tensions build across the Line of Control. Once war erupts, the narrative shifts to urgent, problem-solving aerial operations constrained by diplomacy, terrain and enemy surface-to-air threats. Parallel tracks explore the political manoeuvring on the Pakistani side, adding texture without turning characters into caricatures.

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What elevates the series is its restraint. Aerial sequences feel purposeful rather than over-stylised, prioritising urgency and coordination over pure spectacle. The real emotional weight comes from the performances. Siddharth brings quiet authority, warmth and philosophical understatement to Ahuja, making the mentor figure the emotional core. Jimmy Shergill matches him with controlled intensity and lived-in leadership as Dhanoa. Supporting turns by Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina and others ground the younger pilots’ arcs of arrogance, growth and sacrifice.

Minor pacing dips and the occasional familiar war-drama beat appear, yet sincere characterisation and a clear-eyed focus on process over chest-thumping keep the show compelling. It functions as both a tribute to the IAF’s role in Kargil and an accessible entry into the pressures of high-altitude air combat.

Streaming on Netflix, Operation Safed Sagar is a solid, affecting wartime drama that balances pride with humanity. Siddharth and Jimmy Shergill’s grounded work ensures the story lands with genuine heart.