After spending thousands of hours flying in the skies, Akshat Saxena has now given wings to his childhood dream by stepping into the world of acting. For him, the journey is not merely about changing professions, but an emotional transition shaped by his father's legacy, an unfulfilled childhood dream and the desire to carve out a new identity for himself.

Akshat's father was a decorated fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force and also participated in Operation Safed Sagar. Therefore, playing the role of a fighter controller in an Air Force uniform in a project based on the operation was an especially emotional and proud moment for Akshat. Having dreamed of performing on stage as a child, Akshat took the bold decision at the age of 33 to bid farewell to a successful career as a pilot and dedicate himself entirely to acting. As he begins his acting journey with Operation Safed Sagar, Akshat Saxena spoke exclusively to 'Hindusthan Samachar' about his father's inspiration and his emotional experience of facing the camera for the first time.

Question: Operation Safed Sagar marks the beginning of your acting journey. What particularly drew you to the film?

Answer: I was interested in the film from the moment I was told about the script of Operation Safed Sagar. I was aware of the operation during the Kargil War because my father was a Mirage 2000 pilot and flew several missions during Operation Safed Sagar. When I was offered the role of a fighter controller, I found it extremely interesting and impactful. Fighter controllers and fighter pilots work very closely with each other in the Indian Air Force. After reading the script, I felt that the story was closely rooted in reality and actual events, which is why I decided to take up the role.

Question: How did you prepare for your character in the film?

Answer: To prepare for the role, I spoke to some of my friends currently serving in the Air Force who are fighter controllers. I learned from them about their lives, the way they operate during missions and their working relationship with fighter pilots. My own experience as a pilot was also extremely useful. I have used radiotelephony for around 15 years, so I understood how such communications are conducted and what kind of information pilots need. My own experience, along with my conversations with friends serving as fighter controllers in the Air Force, formed an important part of my preparation for the role.

Question: When did the idea of becoming an actor first occur to you?

Answer: The dream of becoming an actor actually began in my childhood. When I was five or six years old, my mother enrolled me in a few stage plays. I also had a photoshoot when I was around eight, but things did not progress further at the time. Since my father was in the Air Force, we were posted to different places every two or three years. I studied at around seven or eight schools across the country.

The dream was always there, but I could not fulfil it. After the Air Force, I became a pilot myself and remained occupied with the profession for around 13-14 years. Then, one day, I realised that we have only one life and that every dream deserves a chance. I decided to leave my job and pursue acting full-time. After that, I underwent extensive training. I trained and attended workshops with Adil Hussain, Neeraj Kabi and Mukesh Chhabra. I also completed a three-month diploma course with Barry John, who has been honoured with the Padma Shri. That was essentially my preparation to become an actor.

Question: What was it like facing the camera for the first time?

Answer: My first experience in front of the camera was very good. I feel life had prepared me for it. My experience as a pilot and airline professional gave me a great deal of confidence. I had also undergone acting training, so I already had a certain level of confidence about facing the camera. I thoroughly enjoyed being on the set, and the entire team was wonderful. Director Oni Sen is among the finest directors I have worked with so far. So, working in front of the camera was a very positive experience for me.

Question: As a debutant, what was the biggest challenge you faced on the film set?

Answer: No matter how prepared or well-trained you are, there is always a certain amount of nervousness when you step onto a set for the first time. I believe that is actually a good thing. The biggest challenge was to remain completely present in the moment. Every actor is taught not to think of the set as a set, but to experience the situation as reality. Initially, that was a little difficult for me. But our team was fantastic. Director Oni Sen, Siddharth, Jimmy Sheirgill and all the other actors were extremely professional. They made everyone feel very comfortable on the set. The support of the entire cast and crew made the experience very easy and comfortable for me.

Question: What similarities do you see between flying an aircraft and acting?

Answer: There are quite a few similarities between the two fields. To become a good pilot, you need extensive training, study and experience, and your abilities improve with time. The same applies to acting. You need formal training, and with experience, you gradually become a better actor. Learning to fly an aircraft also involves several levels of training and requires considerable time. Similarly, acting requires continuous learning. I am now looking for as many opportunities as possible to play different characters and develop myself as an actor.

Question: Was there a particular moment during the shoot that you will always remember?

Answer: Wearing the Air Force uniform was, in itself, a moment of immense pride and honour for me. It is the uniform of a soldier, and it was particularly personal for me because my father was himself a highly respected and distinguished fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. He also played an important role in bringing the Mirage 2000 from France to India and inducting it into the Indian Air Force in 1985. He also participated in Operation Safed Sagar. So, wearing a uniform similar to the one he wore was a matter of tremendous pride for me.

The other special moment was working with my acting mentor, Adil Hussain. I had attended my first acting workshop with him. When I called him and told him that I was doing Operation Safed Sagar, he told me that he was also part of the project. When we were together on the set for the first time, both of us were wearing Air Force uniforms, with him portraying a senior officer. Sharing the set and the screen with him was a great privilege for me. I learned a great deal from him on the set.

Question: How different was it to stand in front of a camera after having logged around 8,000 hours of flying?

Answer: I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a pilot, I was always interacting with passengers. While working for an airline, if there was a delay or any other issue, it was my responsibility to provide passengers with accurate information. I enjoyed that job tremendously for many years and interacted extensively with passengers. Perhaps that is one reason I did not feel any fear in front of the camera. When you are playing a character in front of the camera, my experience as a pilot gave me a certain confidence that I could handle it comfortably. I felt very much at ease. It felt as though I was the captain of an aircraft. I believe every character, whether big or small, has its own importance. So, I played my character with the same confidence.

Question: Would you like to maintain your connection with aviation while pursuing acting?

Answer: Absolutely. At present, I am completely invested in acting because I have a principle: whatever you do, give it 200 per cent. I left my job because I wanted to give acting my complete time, attention and effort. At that time, I was in a good and senior position and my career was progressing very well, but I decided to give acting my full commitment.

However, my connection with aviation will always remain. I am a third-generation pilot. My grandfather was a pilot, my father was a pilot, and I am also a pilot. So, aircraft will always remain a part of my life. God willing, I hope to fulfil my dream of one day buying my own aircraft and flying it. My connection with both acting and aviation will always remain.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar