Jimmy Shergill opens up about the inspiration behind Operation Safed Sagar, meeting real-life Indian Air Force officers.

Actor Jimmy Shergill has opened up about the inspiration behind his recent show Operation Safed Sagar, and it's a surprising one. During the making of the show, he met real-life Indian Air Force officers who left a lasting impression on him.

Learning Humility from Heroes

Jimmy Shergill starred as an Indian Air Force pilot in the show, and he says that meeting these heroes helped him learn humility. 'When you meet these heroes in reality, who have sacrificed so much for the country, you see how humble and simple these people are in the way they talk and behave with you,' he explains.

The makers of the show wanted to create a non-jingoistic and chest-thumping portrayal of the armed forces, which is a refreshing change from the usual aggressive portrayals seen in Indian films. Jimmy Shergill was part of this effort and says that it's a great win for both him and the makers behind the show.

A Shift Away from Hypermasculinity

The masculinity on display in the officers in the show is a welcome change from the usual hypermasculine and alpha male personas seen on screen. Jimmy Shergill says that he's not against playing such roles, but it's refreshing to see a more subtle approach.

Jimmy Shergill has played an Air Force officer before in Agnipankh (2004) and Dharti (2011), and getting back into the role brought back fond memories for him. He also praises the young actors who were part of the show, saying that they were brilliant in their characters.

'The boys are brilliant and more than what they took away from me or I took away from them, it’s important to say that they were brilliant in their characters,' he says. 'I was part of scenes where they were performing in front of me and I was so happy to see them do so well. You just know that something good is going to come out of it.'