Siddharth wins Best Actor OTT Award for Operation Safed Sagar; says, “It’s been a nice dream to play a hero who is really a hero”

Siddharth has received recognition for his performance in Operation Safed Sagar, in which he portrayed Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja. The actor was honoured with the Best Actor (Male) OTT Award for his role in the Netflix series, which revisited the contributions and experiences of Indian Air Force officers during the Kargil War. His portrayal has also drawn attention to the lives and service of the personnel who served the country.

The recognition marks another milestone in Siddharth's career, particularly in Hindi-language projects. The actor, who earlier played revolutionary Bhagat Singh in the 2006 film Rang De Basanti, spoke about what the award meant to him and acknowledged the people and institutions who made his portrayal of Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja possible.

“Rang De Basanti 2006 mein release hui thi aur itne saalon mein Hindi bhaasha mein adakari karne mein yeh mera pehla Best Actor award hain. First and foremost, thank you to Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja - getting to play a part of his life on-screen has been one of the most incredible honours of my life. And I want to thank Alka Ahuja ma'am for giving me permission to play her husband. I'd like to thank the Indian Air Force for giving me permission to wear the uniform,” he said.

Reflecting on the connection between his roles as Bhagat Singh and Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, Siddharth explained how both characters gave him a similar sense of purpose. He also spoke about the opportunity to portray a real-life hero and the encouragement that comes from receiving recognition for such performances.

He added, “It's been a nice dream to play a hero who is really a hero, and I found that in Bhagat Singh 20 years ago, and I found that purpose again in Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja. It helps people like me believe that in the age of OTT, there's good work and there are people who recognise artists and give them roles like this.”

The actor also spoke about the responsibility of portraying members of the armed forces, acknowledging the difference between wearing a uniform on screen and understanding the experiences of those who serve. He highlighted how the Indian Air Force encouraged the team to maintain realism while depicting its personnel.

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