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Actor Mihir Ahuja Reflects on Immortalised Role as Flying Officer Bal Reddy in Netflixs Operation Safed Sagar
When the real Flying Officer who inspired the role texted the actor, "you immortalised my character," it felt like a nod from history itself. Mihir Ahuja, who portrays Flying Officer CH Bal Reddy in the Netflix series Operation Safed Sagar, says that message was a highlight of the project.
The series, which premiered worldwide on Netflix on 7 August 2026, dramatises the Indian Air Force’s high‑altitude missions during the 1999 Kargil War. In an interview with India Today, the 28‑year‑old actor recalled receiving the text from Bal Reddy—a former IAF officer who later rose to the rank of Wing Commander. Ahuja said the officer had saved his contact number on his phone as "Baldy" and sent a brief but powerful note: "you immortalised my character." He added that Bal Reddy’s wife, Madhavi, also praised his performance.
Ahuja’s preparation was intense. He had only two days to study the script before filming began, a fact he described as "very, very nervous." He read the script while in a flight and noted that the opportunity to portray a real war hero was both exciting and daunting. "We are playing real‑life officers, but people don’t know their story, what happened behind the scenes. So the main protagonist was the story, and that story needs to be told in a certain way," the actor said.
The production team shot on authentic locations, including a MiG aircraft that was used in the Kargil conflict. Ahuja spent time at the station, observing Air Force officers and taking notes, emphasising that his focus was on telling the officers’ stories authentically rather than copying their mannerisms.
Operation Safed Sagar is a collaboration between Matchbox Shots and Feel Good Films, with support from the Indian Air Force. It was created by Kushal Srivastava and Abhijeet Singh Parmar, directed by Oni Sen, and produced by Mehboob Pal Singh Brar. The narrative follows the No. 17 Squadron, known as the Golden Arrows, as they execute daring missions behind enemy lines. Prajakta Koli plays Madhavi Reddy, Bal Reddy’s wife, while Jimmy Shergill, Siddharth, Vinay Pathak, Manu Rishi Chadha, and Abhay Verma appear in supporting roles.
Beyond Operation Safed Sagar, Ahuja has appeared in films such as The Archies (2023), Vijay 69, and Sarzameen. He has said that he feels fortunate to be offered varied characters and prefers to let projects choose him: "Honestly, the roles have chosen me and not I have chosen them. I will be very honest. Till now in my career, I’ve been very, very lucky to be offered versatile and different characters."
The series was released on Netflix on 7 August 2026 and has already attracted attention for its realistic portrayal of the Kargil War. It is part of a growing trend of Indian streaming platforms producing military dramas that focus on lesser‑known aspects of national history. As of now, Operation Safed Sagar remains available on Netflix, and there are no announced plans for a second season. Ahuja has indicated that he will continue to seek diverse roles in the future.
The series’ release follows the 2023 film The Archies, which premiered at the 54th International Film Festival of India and was later released on Netflix. While The Archies received mixed reviews, it earned five nominations at the 2024 Filmfare OTT Awards.
In summary, Mihir Ahuja’s portrayal of Flying Officer Bal Reddy has been validated by the real officer himself, and the series has contributed to a broader conversation about representing India’s military history on digital platforms.
The series, which premiered worldwide on Netflix on 7 August 2026, dramatises the Indian Air Force’s high‑altitude missions during the 1999 Kargil War. In an interview with India Today, the 28‑year‑old actor recalled receiving the text from Bal Reddy—a former IAF officer who later rose to the rank of Wing Commander. Ahuja said the officer had saved his contact number on his phone as "Baldy" and sent a brief but powerful note: "you immortalised my character." He added that Bal Reddy’s wife, Madhavi, also praised his performance.
Ahuja’s preparation was intense. He had only two days to study the script before filming began, a fact he described as "very, very nervous." He read the script while in a flight and noted that the opportunity to portray a real war hero was both exciting and daunting. "We are playing real‑life officers, but people don’t know their story, what happened behind the scenes. So the main protagonist was the story, and that story needs to be told in a certain way," the actor said.
The production team shot on authentic locations, including a MiG aircraft that was used in the Kargil conflict. Ahuja spent time at the station, observing Air Force officers and taking notes, emphasising that his focus was on telling the officers’ stories authentically rather than copying their mannerisms.
Operation Safed Sagar is a collaboration between Matchbox Shots and Feel Good Films, with support from the Indian Air Force. It was created by Kushal Srivastava and Abhijeet Singh Parmar, directed by Oni Sen, and produced by Mehboob Pal Singh Brar. The narrative follows the No. 17 Squadron, known as the Golden Arrows, as they execute daring missions behind enemy lines. Prajakta Koli plays Madhavi Reddy, Bal Reddy’s wife, while Jimmy Shergill, Siddharth, Vinay Pathak, Manu Rishi Chadha, and Abhay Verma appear in supporting roles.
Beyond Operation Safed Sagar, Ahuja has appeared in films such as The Archies (2023), Vijay 69, and Sarzameen. He has said that he feels fortunate to be offered varied characters and prefers to let projects choose him: "Honestly, the roles have chosen me and not I have chosen them. I will be very honest. Till now in my career, I’ve been very, very lucky to be offered versatile and different characters."
The series was released on Netflix on 7 August 2026 and has already attracted attention for its realistic portrayal of the Kargil War. It is part of a growing trend of Indian streaming platforms producing military dramas that focus on lesser‑known aspects of national history. As of now, Operation Safed Sagar remains available on Netflix, and there are no announced plans for a second season. Ahuja has indicated that he will continue to seek diverse roles in the future.
The series’ release follows the 2023 film The Archies, which premiered at the 54th International Film Festival of India and was later released on Netflix. While The Archies received mixed reviews, it earned five nominations at the 2024 Filmfare OTT Awards.
In summary, Mihir Ahuja’s portrayal of Flying Officer Bal Reddy has been validated by the real officer himself, and the series has contributed to a broader conversation about representing India’s military history on digital platforms.
