‘Operation Safed Sagar’ Ranks No. 2 Globally On Netflix, MiG-21 Documentary Announced

Netflix’s military drama “Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War” has emerged as a global success, climbing to No. 2 on the streaming platform’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV List.

The six-episode series, which premiered on August 7, has remained in Netflix’s global Top 10 for two consecutive weeks. According to the streamer, it has entered the Top 10 in 40 countries and reached the No. 1 position in 10 of them.

Set against the backdrop of the 1999 Kargil War, the series follows the story of the Indian Air Force’s Golden Arrows squadron, while exploring the sacrifices, resilience and personal struggles of pilots and their families during the conflict.

The series has drawn attention for its portrayal of the Indian Air Force, aerial action sequences and performances by Jimmy Shergill, Siddharth, Abhay Verma and Mihir Ahuja, along with Taaruk Raina, Arnav Bhasin, Dia Mirza, Prajakta Koli, Adil Hussain and Amrita Bagchi.

At the centre of the story is the MiG-21, the iconic fighter aircraft flown by the Golden Arrows. The series also marks the last time the aircraft was filmed in action before its retirement from Indian Air Force service.

Netflix has now announced a documentary dedicated to the legendary fighter. Titled “The Last Salute”, the film will trace the MiG-21’s remarkable 62-year association with the Indian Air Force and its role in key chapters of Indian military aviation, including the Kargil conflict.

Directed by “Operation Safed Sagar” co-creator Kushal Srivastava and produced by Matchbox Shots, the documentary will premiere on Netflix on August 26.

It will feature Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh as well as pilots who flew the MiG-21 over several decades. The documentary promises personal memories, previously untold stories and rare moments from the aircraft’s long journey with the Indian Air Force.

Netflix India Series Head Tanya Bami said the success of “Operation Safed Sagar” demonstrated how a distinctly Indian story could connect with audiences worldwide. She said the MiG-21 repeatedly emerged as an important part of conversations with pilots during the making of the series, prompting the team to explore its legacy separately.

Producer Sanjay Routray said the makers realised that the MiG-21 was “not just an aircraft” but an emotion for generations of Indian air warriors.

“The Last Salute” will therefore go beyond the machine itself, focusing on the bond between the fighter and the pilots who flew it, while paying tribute to an aircraft that played a defining role in India’s aviation history.