Netflix is betting big on its upcoming Indian military drama, 'Operation Safed Saagar,' which it touts as its most ambitious Indian production to date. The series, which chronicles the Indian Air Force's role in the 1999 Kargil War, was the sole Indian release featured at Netflix's global 'Next on Netflix 2026' event, signaling the streamer's high hopes for its global appeal. Netflix officially announced the project, describing it as what promises to be their biggest Indian series, highlighting a potential spelling change in the title from "Sagar" to "Saagar."
The series boasts a significant cast, including Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill, Abhay Verma, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Adil Hussain, Mihir Ahuja, Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin, and Amrita Bagchi. It is created by Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Kushal Srivastava, directed by Oni Sen, and written by Sandeep Jain, Nikhil Ravi, and Barun Kashyap. Production is handled by Matchbox Shots LLP and Feel Good Films. A key aspect of the production is its close cooperation with the Indian Air Force, with plans to film on actual Air Force bases, as showcased at a military event on November 1, 2025.
'Operation Safed Saagar' is part of Netflix India's expansive 2026 programming slate, which includes 30 projects (19 series and 11 films) and features prominent Indian actors such as Sunny Deol, Madhuri Dixit, Saif Ali Khan, and Anil Kapoor. This slate emphasizes Netflix's strategy to cater to a broader Indian audience beyond urban, English-speaking households, as India's OTT audience reached 601.2 million in 2025. Monika Shergill, VP of content at Netflix India, stated that the slate aims to provide a diverse and high-quality choice for viewers, reflecting a pivot to the mass market.
