New Delhi, Oct. 5 -- In recent times, few OTT shows have earned as much praise as 'Operation Safed Sagar' on 'Netflix' for steering clear of jingoism while telling a moving story about the unsung heroes of the Kargil War. The series also has a strong Bengal connection. Actress Amrita Bagchi plays Alka Ahuja, the wife of Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, who lost his life during the war. Born and brought up in Kolkata, Amrita spent some time in Santiniketan before moving across different cities and eventually settling in Mumbai.
An actor, writer, visual artist and filmmaker, Amrita speaks to 'Millennium Post' about her latest work, her journey and the experience of bringing Alka Ahuja's story to the screen.
You play Alka Ahuja, the wife of Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, in 'Operation Safed Sagar'. What was your first reaction when you were offered the role and what changed in your understanding of Alka after you actually met her?
Casting director Deepak called me. I had done an audition for him in 2019 for a project that eventually didn't work out. But he remembered the audition. I met the creators and directors, but at that time, I didn't fully understand the scale of the show. At that moment, I only wanted the part. Two months later, I was confirmed. There's been so much gravitas around tragedies and that's how I thought things would happen here as well. But when I met Alka ji (wife of Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, the IAF officer), I understood how much wisdom, strength and resilience she has. The grief was omnipresent, but she didn't allow it to make her bitter or cynical.
The series is about the Kargil War and the Indian Air Force, but Alka's story shifts the focus towards the emotional cost of war for families. Do you think stories about war need to spend more time with the people waiting at home?
I think that any good story about war is about the human cost of war. Talk about any films like 'Full Metal Jacket' or 'Saving Private Ryan' and it talks about the cost of war. And the people waiting at home are the cost of war. They don't get validation for it. Like in the case of Alkaji. She didn't get any validation for it for 25 years, apart from people in the defence forces. Not a lot of people knew about her or the magnitude of what she had been dealing with for so many years.
You have moved between acting, writing, directing and visual art. Do you see yourself primarily as an actor who also makes films or as a filmmaker whose medium happens to include acting?
I feel that I'm an artist first. The medium of expression changes. I don't have much control over my career as an actor. I do have a lot more control in my journey as a filmmaker. But if other people imagine me in their projects and give me good parts, I will get to express myself. I'm saying this more because I don't think I'll ever be able to direct myself. I don't think I have the confidence or skill set to be able to direct myself. I am dependent on other people for my acting journey.
Having grown up between Kolkata and Santiniketan, is there a story from Bengal that has stayed with you long enough to make you want to turn it into a film?
I actually did my second short film, 'Tinctoria', which highlights the tainted history of Indigo slavery. Nabaneeta Dev Sen has written about her solo travel in the 1970s and I love them. Apart from Bengali literature, I want to do something with Durga Puja and its rich history.
You share maximum screen space with Siddharth. How was the experience?
It was fantastic. Siddharth has a very rich inner world. He's very well-read and watches a lot of films. His socio-political mind is very active. Also, he doesn't believe in hierarchy.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.