Mumbai: Actor Siddharth has spoken about the practical challenges of preparing for his role as an Indian Air Force pilot in the upcoming series Operation Safed Sagar, particularly the constraints of working with a MiG cockpit.

The series is based on the Indian Air Force’s combined arms operations during the 1999 Kargil War, which supported the Army in clearing positions occupied by Pakistani forces along the Line of Control. Siddharth discussed the preparation during promotional interactions in Mumbai alongside co-actors Jimmy Shergill, Mihir Ahuja and Arnav Bhasin.

Describing the cockpit environment, he said: “The cockpit of a MiG. It’s very, very small. It’s smaller than this chair. So, you can only see this angle when you come forward. So, if you’re in the air, what will be your eyeline? It’s not like you can look down like this. What do you see from where? What is your eyeball movement? Everything was shown to us.”

He also highlighted the precision required in communication. “Even the detailing of the words. What words you can use, because there’s no shouting in the air. Everything is said very clearly in a very short time. And maximum in English. And if there’s even one mistake, we won’t be allowed to okay the shot. So, they will come and correct it. So, the way we walk, the way we dress, everything is controlled.”

Siddharth noted that the training did not create the sensation of actual flying, as the actors lacked that specialised background. Instead, the focus was on understanding the theory, discipline and operational constraints. “If you ask me, did I feel like I was flying? Not at all. Because we don’t have that training. We don’t belong in this kind. But I’ll tell you that we understood what goes behind it. The theory of it, I think all of us have understood. That’s the training.”

He added that the more significant aspect of the preparation, for him and likely for others, lay in exploring the human and emotional dimensions of the characters.

Operation Safed Sagar is scheduled to begin streaming on Netflix on August 7. The series aims to portray both the operational realities of the air campaign and the personal experiences of those involved. Siddharth’s comments underscore the attention given to technical authenticity, from cockpit limitations and radio protocol to body language and procedural accuracy, while also acknowledging the limits of what actors can realistically simulate.