Operation Safed Sagar Actress Amrita Bagchi Recalls Emotional Meeting With Alka Ahuja: ‘Home Is Your First Country, Family Is Your First Country’

Netflix's upcoming military drama Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War aims to bring the untold story of the Indian Air Force's role in the 1999 Kargil War to a global audience. While the series promises gripping aerial combat and inspiring tales of courage, actress Amrita Bagchi believes its emotional core lies in the lives of the families who stood behind the men in uniform. During the trailer launch in Mumbai, the actress opened up about meeting Alka Ahuja, wife of the late Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, and revealed how the interaction changed her perspective forever.

During the media interaction, we asked Amrita Bagchi about her role in the series and the biggest lesson she took away from working on Operation Safed Sagar. The actress shared that her preparation went far beyond research, as spending time with Alka Ahuja helped her understand the human side of the story in a way no script ever could.

Recalling the meeting, Amrita said, "For me, it all began when I met Alka Ma'am and spent a few hours talking to her. Initially, I had gone there thinking I would just do my homework and learn the facts, but speaking with her made me realize the sheer magnitude of this experience. As an individual, you simply cannot encapsulate or fully comprehend the experiences and hardships she endured—it's impossible. However, there is a grace about her—an inherent grace—that one can truly learn from."

The actress revealed that one particular photograph shared by Alka Ahuja completely changed how she viewed Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja—not just as a decorated officer, but as a husband and father. "She shared some photos of Ajay ji with me. One of my favorites—since we are so used to seeing him in uniform—is a picture from an Air Force event where he was performing with a puppet. He was leaning out from behind the curtain, manipulating the puppet with his hands. That image resonated with me the most; he was a father and a husband, and his love for the country stemmed from those roles. Home is your first country; family is your first country. If that anchor is solid, you can anchor yourself just as firmly to the nation. That was my biggest takeaway."

Amrita also spoke about discovering the lighter side of the war hero through conversations with his wife. "When I asked Alka ji about him, she spoke not just of his duties but of what a fun-loving person he was. He wasn't an intense person by nature—he was fun—yet he was capable of such profound intensity. I think that was my major lesson from this experience, aside from the absolute honor of it all. I am so grateful."

Her words reflect one of the central themes of Operation Safed Sagar—that the story is not only about battlefield heroics but also about the emotional strength of the families who silently carried the burden of service. The series explores both the daring missions undertaken by the Indian Air Force's Golden Arrows Squadron and the resilience of the loved ones waiting for their safe return.

Operation Safed Sagar takes its name from the Indian Air Force's historic aerial campaign launched on May 26, 1999, during the Kargil War. Widely regarded as the world's highest-altitude air operation, the mission played a crucial role in supporting the Indian Army against enemy positions in the mountains. The Netflix series draws inspiration from real events, extensive archival research, and the book Where Eagles Dared: Operation Safed Sagar by Rishi Kumar, while also benefiting from technical guidance provided by retired Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa.

Directed by Oni Sen and created by Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Kushal Srivastava, the series stars Siddharth as Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, Jimmy Shergill as Wing Commander B.S. Dhanoa, alongside Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Adil Hussain, Vinay Pathak, and Amrita Bagchi. Blending large-scale aerial action with deeply personal stories of love, sacrifice, and resilience, Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War premieres globally on Netflix on August 7, 2026.