'Not even one-fourth of the story': Mihir Ahuja on Operation Safed Sagar, -25°C shoots and the Kargil War

Operation Safed Sagar, which was released earlier this month, brings one of the lesser-known chapters of the 1999 Kargil War to audiences. Alongside Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill and Abhay Verma, the Netflix series also stars Mihir Ahuja as Flying Officer C.H. Bal Reddy, aka Baldy, one of the young officers navigating the challenges of war while balancing his personal life.

The series sheds light on the Indian Air Force's No. 17 Squadron, the Golden Arrows, and the role it played during the historic war. Inspired by real events, Operation Safed Sagar follows the squadron's perilous missions during the conflict. For Mihir, who was just a year old when the Kargil War took place, the series offered an opportunity to go beyond the story he knew growing up and discover the scale, teamwork and sacrifices behind India's victory.

Also Read: Operation Safed Sagar: Meet the real heroes behind Netflix’s Kargil War series

In an exclusive conversation with WION, Mihir opened up about playing a real-life hero, what surprised him most about the Kargil War, and the challenges of shooting at 16,500 feet in sub-zero temperatures. The 28-year-old actor also spoke about his bond with co-stars Siddharth and Jimmy Shergill, his journey from Jamshedpur to Mumbai and more.

WION: What was special about Operation Safed Sagar that made you want to be a part of the series?

Mihir Ahuja: Honestly, a lot of things. Firstly, when I read the script, I was so stunned by it. Getting to play a real-life hero is something anyone would want to do.

What has stayed with me, honestly, is the love from the officers, the soldiers and the pilots. The way they accepted us as civilians and granted us permission to enter the Air Force stations and shoot at these locations is something that isn't easy for anyone. So, yeah, that has stayed with me - the love I got from them.

WION: We all know the broad history of the Kargil War, but was there anything you learnt while filming the series that really surprised you?

Mihir Ahuja: I was one year old when the Kargil War took place. Like everyone else, I knew that we won the Kargil War, but I didn't know the details.

What we've shown in this series is just one operation. Operation Safed Sagar has only shown one part- the story of No. 17 Squadron, the Golden Arrows. But there were a lot of squadrons and a lot of teams involved. We can't tell all the stories at once.

So, if you're inspired just by watching this, it's not even one-fourth of the story of the Kargil War because it was also a story of the Army and the Navy. It was very, very vast, and we won it.

Also Read: Operation Safed Sagar trailer promises a gripping tribute to the heroes of the Kargil War

What really surprised me was the teamwork and the unity behind it. The small details, the number of calculations the pilots had to make before a MIG flies or before a bomb is dropped - we, as civilians, had no clue about all of this.

Everyone had given up their sleep and peace at that time. There were sleepless nights for the soldiers and the pilots, and they were still working to protect our nation. Because for them, the whole of India is their family. So they go by that motto.

WION: What was the most challenging part of the shoot for you, emotionally or physically?

Mihir Ahuja: My character's arc is emotionally very present in the show. His emotional arc is very different because I am stuck between two things - my love and the love for my country.

Mentally, as actors, you don't always realise what you're going through while shooting. But after a 12-hour shoot, you feel exhausted. Subconsciously, you don't even feel it, but when you go home, you realise that you've given yourself a lot of mental stress that day. So that was mentally exhausting. During the shoot, it didn't feel like that. I felt it after going home.

The biggest physical challenge was in Shinkula and Jispa, where we shot at 16,500 feet above sea level. We were shooting in minus 20 and minus 25 degrees.

There were times when people were moving forward and, if we looked back, two or three of our people were going one by one. We wouldn't even realise that they had fallen because the oxygen level there was so low.

Also Read: Operation Safed Sagar review: Siddharth and Jimmy Shergill soar in a restrained Kargil war drama

Even after acclimatisation, we found out after two or three days that the body had acclimatised. But then a local there said that it wasn't easy to even stay there for two days, and we were shooting there for 40 days. So that was difficult.

But kudos to the crew - the light men, the spot boys and the production team. And especially the directors and the creators. They were present for every scene there. So it was a different challenge for them as well.

WION: The series has a big cast and you got to work with actors like Siddharth and Jimmy Shergill. What was the dynamic like on the set?

Mihir Ahuja: It was very dynamic. I've read this somewhere and I believe it's true - someone who is a good human being will be a good actor. So, to become a good actor, you have to be a good human being.

All the people I've worked with - Siddharth sir and Jimmy sir - are very, very good. They are down to earth and humble. We used to chill together and have fun together.

Jimmy sir and my conversations were mostly about diet and discipline. Siddharth is such a good gel in our group. We have fun together, and he has a very good sense of humour. So that's something I really, really love about him.

WION: Can you share a memorable behind-the-scenes moment from the shoot?

Mihir Ahuja: I remember this one moment. If you're shooting somewhere in Mumbai, the directors might say, 'Get the car from behind' or 'Bring the car into the frame.' Here, we were doing it with helicopters. 'Bring the helicopter a little forward. Bring the helicopter back.'

It was surreal. We were like, 'Is this actually happening?' I vividly remember that moment from the set.

WION: You grew up in Jamshedpur. When did you decide that you wanted to pursue acting as a career?

Mihir Ahuja: I think that your city, your place, your longitude or latitude can decide what you want to be. If you have passion, you can do what you want to do. You just need to go with it.

Also Read: Kargil Vijay Diwas: The real story that inspired Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill's Operation Safed Sagar

Very early in my life, I decided. I used to jokingly say, 'I want to become an actor. I want to become an actor.' But that joke was true because I honestly enjoyed it. I had an inclination towards performing arts from the very beginning.

I used to do performances in school and stage performances and everything. So when I was around 10 or 12 years old, I had made up my mind.

WION: What was the biggest reality check you got after coming to Mumbai?

Mihir Ahuja: I already had an idea about how much patience this industry needs. But in the beginning, I didn't get a chance to give auditions. So I didn't know how to crack that.

I thought, 'Yes, I know how to act. I'll go and get a chance to give auditions. After that, whether it happens or not, that's another story.' But to even get a chance to audition, I had to take a step back and figure out how I could get that opportunity. That was surprising.

WION: Is there a role you really want to do but haven't been offered yet?

Mihir Ahuja: I don't want to sound like I'm bragging or boasting about myself, but as an actor, I feel, I can do anything.

I've said this before- something like a Prince Charming or a Rapunzel kind of shoot, but something like that in India, like Snow White or something. I hope that comes true.

And comedy. I love doing comedy. So something like Bhagam Bhag, De Dana Dan and those Govinda and Kader Khan films. I'm watching those films, and I'd love to do something like that.

Madgaon Express is a very recent example. I love how Kunal Khemu — we never looked at him as a director, but he has such a great vision as a director. The film also did so well. I'd love to do something like that.

WION: What is Mihir like when there is no camera around?

Mihir Ahuja: A fun person. I think I'm an ambivert. Not an introvert, but somewhere in the middle. It takes time for me to open up, but when I open up, then...

I'm also very fond of travelling, so whenever I get a chance, I try to pick up my bag and leave.