Over time, actor Siddharth has been known for his coming-of-age and rom-com dramas, but one genre he often seems to have a knack for is stories about responsibility, courage and social change. While many actors have played patriotic characters, Siddharth’s films often focus on ordinary people who decide to stand up for what they believe is right. His roles have explored youth activism, political awareness, corruption and national service. Let’s look at some social dramas he has been part of.
‘Rang De Basanti ’
One of the most memorable films Siddharth has been a part of is his 2006 coming-of-age political drama, ‘Rang De Basanti’. Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the film became a cultural phenomenon. It shows a carefree group of university friends, where Siddharth played Karan Singhania, a young man whose outlook on life changes dramatically as he learns about the sacrifices made by India’s freedom fighters.
‘Aayutha Ezhuthu’
Before ‘Rang De Basanti’, Siddharth was also part of socially relevant stories through Mani Ratnam’s 2004 film, ‘Aayutha Ezhuthu’, which explored student politics and civic responsibility.Nearly two decades later, Siddharth was seen in the similarly themed film, ‘Indian 2’. In the Shankar-directed franchise starring Kamal Haasan, he plays Chitra Aravindan, a digital activist fighting corruption and demanding accountability.
‘Operation Safed Sagar ’
Siddharth has frequently spoken about his selective approach to portraying national heroes and real-life figures. According to a report by News18, he said, “I was chosen by the universe to play Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja. I have never played real-life heroes, except in Rang De Basanti where I played Shaheed Bhagat Singh. 20 years after playing a martyr, to be chosen to play Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja explains why I was destined to play.“Siddharth’s latest patriotic role is in ‘Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War’, where he portrays Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, the Indian Air Force officer who lost his life during the 1999 Kargil War.“Having said that, I don’t like to approach real-life heroes; usually in India, we take the lives of martyrs, and we commercialise them for our own benefit to make money. I was worried before I signed Safed Sagar that this should have the intent that previous films have shown in this regard,” the actor added as per the same media outlet.
Siddharth meeting Ajay Ahuja’s family
Siddharth also revealed that meeting Ajay Ahuja’s wife, Alka Ahuja, became the emotional turning point for him. She even entrusted him with her husband’s original Air Force flying patches during filming.The series began streaming on OTT on August 7 and has received an enthusiastic response from the viewers.
