Cinema VinesNetflix’s war drama Operation Safed Sagar has become one of the most praised Indian series of recent years, and its creators, Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Mehboob Pal Singh of Feel Good Films, have given the Hindustan Times an inside look at the five‑year, 100‑pilot‑hour production that took them to 16,000 feet above sea level, almost on the doorstep of Kargil.
The series, which dramatises the Indian Air Force’s pivotal Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil War, was born from a concept that began as a film about the Golden Arrows squadron. Co‑creator Kushal Srivastava, an IAF veteran, had originally envisioned a movie, but after meeting with top brass in the Indian Air Force and learning that the story could be told more effectively as a series, he and his co‑writer Antara shifted gears. In January 2022, writing for the show began, a process that would take nearly two years.
Abhijeet Singh Parmar recalls that the team spent 100 hours conducting pilot interviews alone, speaking with fighter pilots who had served before, during, and after the Kargil conflict. “These were people who participated in the war, who'd been there, came before the war, or left before the war or came after the war. This was extensive research,” he said. The depth of this research fed into a 95‑page document that was sent to Netflix, who asked for only 10‑20 pages. Within two weeks, the show was green‑lit and the script work officially kicked off in June 2022.
Despite the creators’ initial doubts, Netflix was receptive to the idea and saw the potential to bring this untold chapter of India’s modern history to a global audience. The series features a star‑studded cast, including Jimmy Shergill and Dissharth, who help bring the intense drama to life. The production team’s commitment to authenticity is evident in the fact that they shot on location at extreme altitudes, with the crew and actors spending time at 16,000 feet, close to Kargil itself.
When the writers began shaping the script, they realised the scope of the story might have been too ambitious. Co‑producer Mehboob Pal Singh noted, “The team realized they may have promised a bit too much.” Yet the dedication of the crew and the support from Netflix allowed the project to move forward, culminating in a series that offers viewers a fresh perspective on a critical moment in India’s recent past.
