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Mumbai, Maharashtra: In an exclusive interview with IANS, actor Abhay Verma opened up about his recently released series Operation Safed Sagar. He spoke about what it meant to don the uniform and what it invoked in him, along with his preparation for the role. He also reflected on sacrifice and its connection with power, shared his views on conscription in India, and expressed gratitude for being born in India, a land of diversity. The actor also described himself as an ambivert and said that food and music help him bond with people.
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#AbhayVerma #OperationSafedSagar #AbhayVermaInterview #IANSExclusive #OTTSeries #AbhayVermaFans #Abhay Verma Actor #Abhay Verma movies #Abhay Verma next film #Abhay Verma wife #Abhay Verma Operation Safed Sagar #IANS
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00:00So, hello, welcome to ANAS.
00:02Thanks.
00:02Massive, massive congratulations for the kind of response that Operation Sapir Sada has got.
00:06With every new project getting such a response,
00:10you're making place in the hearts of people.
00:12How does it empower the artist in you?
00:16Sir, it only acts as fuel for me, honestly.
00:19Recognition is something which every artist works for.
00:22More than money, more than fame, more than anything.
00:25Just the ability to work with the right intent is what an artist really is hungry for.
00:32And it does only that to me, honestly.
00:35It works as, oh share ke mo koon lag gaya wali baat hai.
00:38It only acts as fuel for me.
00:40And I really pledge and promise that I do everything possible to entertain my audience.
00:48And your character of Dhali in the show,
00:52he's a frontrunner, he likes to take challenges.
00:56He may not realize that someone may not be as efficient as him.
01:00Because the bar is set so high for him.
01:01And he wants everyone to be at par with him.
01:03When you were briefed about this character,
01:06what were the initial thoughts that came to your mind,
01:09that I pictured in this way, the tone has to be like this?
01:12I think Dhaliwal sir's courage spoke for itself.
01:16Jab ham air force station ke andar gaye.
01:19And I would mention that okay I am playing Dhaliwal sir.
01:23So everyone around in the air force station on whoever we would meet,
01:28even after 16 years of his passing sadly,
01:33they were really overjoyed of listening about him and talking about him.
01:37So that really tells from generations to generations in the air force itself.
01:43He has been such an inspiration whose courage speaks volumes,
01:47whose stories are still heard of and to be taught to younger generation
01:53to have that kind of a zeal in them to win our country over come what may.
01:57So that was really inspiring for me.
02:00And I honestly, before starting with every day,
02:05I would just close my eyes and I would remember him for two minutes.
02:09And I would really try to just see what kind of a,
02:13or think what kind of a human he would be,
02:16to be able to have that kind of a courage.
02:19Because as civilians, we cannot have that.
02:22We are undeserving of the uniform that we wear.
02:27I think it's God chooses the people whom he wants to,
02:31wants to, to the uniform that is to be worn.
02:38And every soldier I feel in uniform is a God's child.
02:42So I would really just, you know,
02:45just listen to all these stories and take it in me as much as I can.
02:51And imbibe all the learnings that I've had through him.
02:55And the stories that people have to say about him.
02:57And that's all.
02:58And I went with my instinct.
03:00And did every shot,
03:02first keeping him in mind and thanking him for this opportunity.
03:07When you spoke about the uniform,
03:09now the look of your character and who don that uniform,
03:13the responsibility is immense.
03:15The weight on your shoulders is like tremendous.
03:17The pressure rather.
03:19How did it forge your artistry, your performance,
03:22wearing that uniform?
03:23How did it shape your, shape the contours of your performance?
03:26So what uniform actually does is what I would like to tell you.
03:31First of all,
03:32it just changes the posture in which you walk regularly.
03:36Starting, that's number one.
03:39What it does is,
03:41when you enter an airbase,
03:42wearing that uniform,
03:44you're on the tarmac.
03:46And when the real heroes,
03:48real soldiers in the Air Force,
03:50you know, passes you by.
03:55The respect that you feel from them towards you,
04:01people mistake it for them,
04:02like we would.
04:04But it's the respect of the uniform.
04:07I don't think if I would go in civilian clothes and normal clothes,
04:11I would get the same respect.
04:14So uniform is something which puts you really high on a pedestal
04:18and I really feel it's a super human's job to be an Air Force pilot.
04:23And I'm really thankful that I'm born in this country where,
04:26you know, the courage and the pride in our soldiers is so much,
04:30that like in Kargil war,
04:32with limited resources,
04:34we could achieve which was unfathomable.
04:37It is beyond measure that one can put into words.
04:41Yes.
04:44And I was talking to the team the other day at the Netflix office.
04:48I'm just not talking to you because my slot was scheduled.
04:51Sorry.
04:52So, Sidhan sir told me that, you know,
04:54he was talking about the training and how they approach their part
04:57because the mid-cockpit is apparently very narrow and very short.
04:59Oh, yeah, yeah.
05:00So, how was that like for you,
05:02the g-post training and everything,
05:04the g-suit and how did you like,
05:07how did you acclimatize your body to that?
05:10Sir, honestly, we were shooting,
05:14we were thankfully,
05:21so actually,
05:23the MIG cockpit was taken from an actual MIG
05:27and we would put on a suspension
05:30that would go up, down, left, right,
05:33as in when the metronome would say 3, 2, 1.
05:36And that had to be really specific.
05:39And it was a little scary to me.
05:41Honestly, you don't get used to it very early.
05:45And,
05:48let alone sitting in a fighter jet who has won us war.
05:52So, that was a very interesting thing that we had to do.
05:55And we could only comprehend what the fighter's pilot would go through.
06:00It is said that almost a kilo or more than kilo gets reduced
06:04when a pilot is really taking a tough sortie.
06:09So, I can only, like mentally, I can only try to have empathy about it
06:14and then understand that how much a sortie would take.
06:18And,
06:20it's honestly,
06:22it's not an everyday thing that you get to sit in a MIG.
06:25And, it's cockpit.
06:27It is some of the beautiful people who are designed by God
06:31gets to do that,
06:32gets to serve our country.
06:34And, I'm very thankful for my heroes for doing that.
06:36But, coming back to what you asked,
06:38it was a surreal experience
06:41just to be able to call yourself
06:44few last civilians
06:45whoever get to sit in a MIG-21.
06:49So, that's it.
06:50There's actually a funny saying for MIG-21
06:53that they did everything.
06:54They put switches,
06:55they put the fuel tank,
06:56they put everything.
06:57The pitot tube is there
06:58and everything is there.
06:59And then, whatever space was left,
07:02they made a seat on it.
07:04And, the pilot is supposed to sit in it.
07:07There's a funny saying with that.
07:09How long did it take for you to develop the muscle memory
07:11as per the hydrotics or the extraction of the company?
07:13Oh, so we were,
07:15I would actually really like to thank the team over here.
07:18Oni sir who directed the show
07:20and Abhijit Parmar and Kuchal sir who created the show
07:24and also Mehboob sir who produced the show
07:27with Sanjay Rautre sir and Sarita Patil ma'am.
07:30They had designed a cardboard of
07:34inside the cockpit of a MIG-21
07:36and at our homes it was sent.
07:39So, what we would do is,
07:40I would watch a YouTube video of Indian Air Force.
07:43There's this YouTube series that goes on with Indian Air Force
07:47and the cadets who are applying to it.
07:50And, I would see that and I would, you know,
07:53just figure what is where.
07:56Throttle is there and the fuel is there,
07:59the compass is there.
08:01So, all of these things I would figure
08:03and I would get habitual of the surroundings
08:06that I will have in MIG.
08:08But, it doesn't really prepares you
08:11when you actually sit in a real jet.
08:13When you sit in a real jet,
08:15you feel really claustrophobic first of all.
08:17But, you are also elated like
08:20what a machine this is.
08:22You know, it is a beast who
08:25Yes, it is, I mean it is something that
08:28is meant to either kill or
08:32diminish something which has existed.
08:34So, it is that powerful.
08:36And, nothing prepares you to sit in a MIG-21
08:39which has been decommissioned now then
08:42we were the lucky ones,
08:43the last ones to ever sit in it.
08:46And, you mentioned this one word civilian
08:48in one of the previous answers.
08:50Now, you are not just a civilian,
08:51you are an artist as well.
08:52An artist is a different place in the society.
08:55Especially for an actor, they live,
08:56get to live as many lives vicariously through their characters.
09:00But again, an artist,
09:02the main currency for any artist is vibration.
09:05They want to be as free as possible to express themselves
09:07or to learn new skills, new craft.
09:09But then comes the discipline of
09:10of armed forces, air force, army, whatever.
09:13When these two things came together,
09:15the grave for liberation, free expression and the discipline,
09:18how did it change something in you?
09:20So, honestly, liberation doesn't mean living freely
09:23in terms of artist for me.
09:26Liberation means when you are understanding
09:29the responsibility that you hold
09:30and to present it the way as it should be.
09:34That is liberation for me.
09:36That is freedom for me.
09:37And that is when I believe as an artist, I win.
09:41So, apart from that,
09:43we were really thankful that the Air Force was also producers on the show
09:47and their support throughout making of the show has been immense.
09:52I don't think without them,
09:54the show would have been made as the way it is.
09:59We were accessed to the most confidential places that, you know, like you said, also a civilian can't go.
10:08So, it was really a liberating process to get to know about our country's strength
10:14and what it can do if an enemy tries to enter.
10:18So, that we have seen in Kargil War and all the following wars that we have won.
10:24But, honestly, at last, I would really like to say my thoughts that I don't really like wars.
10:31I wish they didn't exist.
10:33I wish there the situation of war doesn't prevail now anywhere in the world
10:41because the lives of innocents are too precious to be, you know, just given like that.
10:48I mean, similarly, I believe that every person in uniform is a God's child.
10:53I also believe that soldiers and soldiers on the borders and borders especially in itself are meant to be protected,
11:03not to be fought for.
11:26So, I would really distinguish between two things, the human side and the wildlife side.
11:33As much as I agree that the wildlife chain really depends on the food chain.
11:39Like the rat is being eaten by a cat and a cat is eaten by a bigger cat.
11:44And I agree to all those things.
11:46But as humans, the least we can do is to be human.
11:53And be...
11:54I mean, everyone understands they have feelings.
11:57But they sometimes fail to understand that the other person is also human and he also has some.
12:05I think one thing that I would really like to say is if we could only just act
12:14just by thinking that what it would feel to be in someone else's shoes.
12:19I think that would really solve our problems.
12:23And thus putting your self-interest behind and looking beyond it to protect someone or to keep someone comfortable.
12:31Is that one of the things that could lead to this like no violence, no war?
12:36I think it's a heroic thing to do.
12:38I really feel it's a heroic thing to do.
12:41And the soldiers who are fighting for us are rightfully doing exactly the same thing.
12:48They...
12:49The only addition to them is that they don't even know everyone.
12:52We only protect the people that we know.
12:56And...
12:57I think the world would be really nice if everybody knew everybody.
13:02Because then it would just be conversations and not bombs dropped and missiles thrown away at other people.
13:09And...
13:10And even...
13:11I mean, those are bigger things but even violence that prevail in our daily society, in daily homes.
13:16I think one should just really believe in empathy.
13:19And...
13:20Just know that the other person is also human.
13:24And they will have feelings.
13:26It's okay to get mad.
13:28But...
13:28Violence is something that I've never really appreciated.
13:32Okay.
13:32And...
13:33By nature, would you describe yourself as an introvert or an extroverted person?
13:36I would describe myself as first an introvert.
13:40But if I'm comfortable, I don't think there's any extrovert like me.
13:45Yeah.
13:46Correct.
13:46I'm an ambivert.
13:47Have you always been like that?
13:48Since then?
13:49Yeah.
13:50I think I've always been a shy person at first.
13:52But...
13:53When I get comfortable, when I get...
13:54When I feel like opening up, I really like...
13:57Then I'm myself.
13:58I'm the goofy side.
13:59I'm the fun side.
14:00But initially, I don't actually...
14:02I also perceive from human to human.
14:05I don't know if someone else will...
14:07Call my fun as overstepping.
14:09So, I just keep my grounds till I feel comfortable with them.
14:12And then I'm all mine.
14:14And...
14:14Given your guards are up in the initial stages of the non-engine direction.
14:19Is your introvertedness or is your nature often mistaken for being boldness?
14:25I don't think so because...
14:28I mean, what do I mean?
14:31But I generally come from an honest perspective.
14:35Even if it's extrovert...
14:37Even if it's my extroverted sense or my introvertedness.
14:41I feel when a person comes from honesty,
14:46It travels to hearts more than a cleverness does to minds.
14:52You know?
14:53So, whatever space I am in...
14:55If I'm introvert and extrovert,
14:57It comes from honesty and a sense of integrity.
14:59So, I don't think it goes in the right...
15:01Goes in the wrong way.
15:03It has gone in the right way only till now.
15:05And hopefully, let's...
15:06I'll try to maintain it.
15:09And moving forward, with regards to...
15:11You said that, you know...
15:12Once you develop a bond with someone, you know...
15:14Once you get comfortable, it's when you're...
15:15The other side opens up.
15:17What are some of the things that you bond with?
15:20Or that you use...
15:21To bond with someone, to interact with someone?
15:24I think food.
15:26Food is really something that really puts...
15:29People together.
15:30But I also believe in considering art music.
15:34I mean, it is very difficult to arrange 10,000 people just like that.
15:39But if you say there's...
15:42Rahman Sa performing.
15:43I mean, you see people will run and come.
15:46So, I think music is something which I really put...
15:50On the top category.
15:51In terms of art.
15:53Where you know, a lot of people can come together.
15:55And I say it because it makes you feel united.
15:57And I also really strongly believe that together we achieve more.
16:02So, that's what music does.
16:04And that's the purpose of art.
16:07To keep people happy and united.
16:10And lastly...
16:11My memory of Kargil war is...
16:14I was in Vaishnavi with my family.
16:15Oh, wow.
16:16And the summer of 1999...
16:20May...
16:20May to July, correct?
16:23And I saw one...
16:24There was a very sparkling thing that was there...
16:26Up there in the sky.
16:27And it gradually...
16:29Started getting...
16:30Increasing in the shape.
16:31And then it...
16:33Dropped.
16:33And within minutes the entire forest was on fire.
16:36So, our bus rode through the fire.
16:38So, that was...
16:38That's my earliest memory of the Kargil war.
16:40The shell dropping and...
16:41Everything being set ablaze.
16:45What are your memories of Kargil war?
16:46How did it...
16:49Shape the child in you?
16:50Or your thought process?
16:51So, honestly...
16:52I was really...
16:53I was just one year old.
16:55And...
16:55I was one year...
16:56One day old...
16:57When we won Kargil war in 26th July 1999.
17:01So, I don't have any memory as such.
17:03But...
17:04We were taught in schools about Kargil.
17:06And I was really fascinated what must have happened.
17:10Little...
17:10That I knew that I would do...
17:13Operation Safed Sagar.
17:14And I would play one of the courageous soldiers in our Indian Air Force.
17:18To depict the story.
17:19But...
17:21We've been hearing it every now and then.
17:23And...
17:24I would also like to...
17:25Say that...
17:27After knowing Operation Safed Sagar.
17:29As a story and whatever happened.
17:33I...
17:34I would like to agree that I failed as a citizen.
17:37Understanding what our heroes and soldiers have put in line.
17:42Their life.
17:44Their family.
17:45For us.
17:47Now...
17:47I feel really extremely grateful.
17:49For two reasons.
17:50First...
17:51That I am a part of a country like India.
17:55Second...
17:55Everything around me...
17:56I am very grateful for.
17:58I am grateful for the water...
18:00The glass of water that is kept in me.
18:02The tissue very nicely is kept.
18:04We are sitting in air condition.
18:05It's all...
18:06No less than a blessing.
18:08Which we take...
18:09For granted...
18:09Every now and then.
18:11You know...
18:12So...
18:12So those two things are really close to me.
18:14And do you think conscription should be mandatory for the normal citizen to understand what it takes to be a
18:19soldier?
18:21I think so, yeah.
18:22I really think so.
18:25But...
18:25Not for any other teaching or some other reason.
18:28But to understand what...
18:30What is the country that you live in.
18:33And it's our right to understand that.
18:35It's not a necessity.
18:37Uh...
18:37Just to...
18:38Become something.
18:39Or you know...
18:40Like a lesson lesson that you have to learn.
18:42But I think as a responsibility to just know.
18:46That what kind of a beautiful country that we live in.
18:50Where we expect every...
18:51Every weather.
18:52Where we have different types of terrains.
18:54We have some great soils that give us really good crops.
18:58So that we can eat.
19:00You know...
19:00So many languages, cultures, traditions.
19:03Which you know...
19:04People come from outside to experience.
19:07But we sometimes you know...
19:08Fail as our own country citizen.
19:10And we go outside and just...
19:12See the water.
19:13Blue water.
19:14And we get happy.
19:15Oh wow!
19:16This is a great place to be in.
19:19But...
19:19Just go to Ijain.
19:21Just sit in the Mandir.
19:22Just listen to Aarti.
19:23And...
19:24Go to Vaishno Devi as you went.
19:26Just take that path.
19:27Just see the Shraddha of people.
19:30And...
19:30Just go to Lakshdeep.
19:33Just experience the beauty over there.
19:37And go to mountains.
19:38Go to North East.
19:39Just to see the culture of it.
19:41You...
19:42I mean...
19:42I really cannot tell you how...
19:45Blessed we are to be a part of this country.
19:47So just for that reason.
19:48Nothing else.
19:50And lastly...
19:51Being an artist...
19:52What does sacrifice mean to you?
19:54Now that you have done operations?
19:59Sacrifice for me means a gift that you give to the person that you care about.
20:08It is...
20:10Nothing...
20:12More or less than that.
20:14There can be different definitions to it.
20:16And rightly so.
20:17But...
20:18I like to take it as a gift.
20:20I don't like to crib about it.
20:22That...
20:23Oh!
20:23This is what I gave it for you.
20:26It's just a gift.
20:27Because I love you.
20:28And I care about you.
20:30I can do it for you.
20:32I can do it for you.
20:32And that is all.
20:33It's a very simple feeling for me.
20:34And I don't complicate things like that.
20:37But it's a great feeling to just...
20:39You know...
20:39Sacrifice something for others.
20:41And...
20:42And it follows.
20:44One person tells the other.
20:45And the other one tells...
20:47The other person.
20:48And does sacrifice result or lead to some sort of power?
20:52Now...
20:52Given that you know that you are willing to sacrifice something which is...
20:56Feel close to your heart or something which is really close to you.
20:58Does it translate to power in any form for you?
21:01Oh!
21:02Very good question.
21:03Does it translate to power?
21:04I think it...
21:09It translates to something bigger than that.
21:13Than just power.
21:15It also...
21:16Not just power.
21:17I am agreeing to it that it translates to power a little bit.
21:20In a good way.
21:21But I also believe sacrifice just translate to...
21:25A better...
21:27A better world.
21:29You know...
21:30Ultimately.
21:31It...
21:32It means...
21:34To...
21:36To do good to unknown.
21:38It doesn't only mean that you do good to the known people.
21:42But...
21:43But yeah...
21:44Sacrifice really can...
21:47Change worlds.
21:48I feel.
21:49Perfect.
21:50So with that we have reached the end of this conversation.
21:52If there is anything that I may have been asking as a question.
21:54Or something that you would have loved to talk about.
21:56So please speak please.
21:57Oh!
21:57Thank you for asking that.
21:59I would really like to...
22:01Just thank our soldiers.
22:03Our real heroes.
22:05Who still as we speak.
22:07And have this conversation.
22:08Are fighting on the borders of our nation.
22:10And staying away from their family.
22:12It means a lot to us.
22:14Jai Hind.
22:15Thank you so much.
22:16Thank you so much.