‘Love filled with hate’: Manu Rishi on playing Pervez Musharraf in Operation Safed Sagar

Manu Rishi Chadha, the actor portraying former Pakistani army chief Pervez Musharraf in the Netflix series Operation Safed Sagar, has revealed that his performance has garnered both admiration and criticism. Speaking to PTI, Chadha mentioned that fans have expressed a complex sentiment towards his character, describing it as "love filled with hate."

He explained that he received messages from individuals who had been deeply affected by the events of 1999, further emphasizing the difficulty of forgiving Musharraf without forgiving Pakistan.

Concerned about the potential for audiences to conflate the character with the real-life individual, Chadha took great care to ensure that viewers would not mistake his portrayal for his own personality. Having previously showcased his comedic talent, he felt that his past roles had endeared him to audiences, helping them distinguish between the actor and the character he portrayed.

To prepare for the role, Chadha studied Musharraf's interviews and videos, and consulted with the series' director, Abhijeet Parmar and co-creator, Oni. He also observed Musharraf's demeanor during a conclave in India, noting his tendency to believe he is always telling the truth. Chadha emphasized the importance of capturing the essence of a man who has been deceiving others for over two decades, and his decision to incorporate pauses as a strategic tool in his performance.

Despite moments of nervousness and self-doubt, Chadha remained focused on his craft, ultimately delivering a compelling portrayal of a complex historical figure.