Black Widows Webseries Actress And Actor Black Widows is an Indian web series from Zee5.…
State of Siege: 26/11 Webseries Actress And Actor
State of Siege: 26/11 Webseries Actress And Actor
State of Siege: 26/11 is an upcoming Hindi Web Series on Zee 5. The plot revolves around the Taj Hotel attacks in Mumbai on November 26. This series puts light on the unknown secret commando operations to counter-attack the terrorists. The major cast of State of Siege: 26/11 include Arjan Bajwa, Arjun Bijlani, and A1 actress Tara Alisha Berry.Actress And Actor
Check out below for the State of Siege: 26/11 Web Series (2020): Cast, Release date, Full HD episodes, High-Speed online streaming, Watch All Episodes.
State of Siege: 26/11 Cast and Crew:
Cast: Arjan Bajwa, Arjun Bijlani, Mukul Dev, Vivek Dahiya, and Tara Alisha Berry
Created by: Zee5
Release Date: January 24, 2020
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The Real Heroes Behind the State of Siege: 26/11 Web Series: Meet the Actors and Actress
The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, a series of coordinated strikes that paralyzed India’s financial capital, remain one of the most tragic and pivotal moments in modern Indian history. While numerous films and documentaries have explored the perspective of the victims and hotel staff, the ZEE5 web series State of Siege: 26/11 offered a rare and powerful narrative shift: the untold story of the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos who led Operation Black Tornado.
Based on the book Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11 by journalist Sandeep Unnithan, the eight-episode series meticulously recreates the 60-hour siege, shedding light on the immense challenge, operational complexities, and sheer bravery of the men in uniform. The success of this authentic retelling rests entirely on its ensemble cast, who stepped into the shoes of real-life heroes and villains.
Here is a deep dive into the talented actors and the key actress who brought the heroism, sacrifice, and dark realities of the 26/11 attacks to life in State of Siege: 26/11.
The NSG Commandos: Leading the Charge
The heart of State of Siege: 26/11 lies with the National Security Guard (NSG) unit, flown in from Manesar to execute the critical counter-terror operation. The actors portraying these commandos faced the unique pressure of embodying real-life military personnel, requiring intensive physical training, weapon handling, and mental preparation, all guided by a former NSG officer who was part of the actual operation.
1. Arjan Bajwa as Colonel Kunal Sahota (Inspired by Col. Sunil Sheoran)
Arjan Bajwa takes on the pivotal lead role of Colonel Kunal Sahota, the commanding officer who leads the NSG’s counter-terrorist unit. His character is a dramatized portrayal, drawing inspiration from the exceptional leadership of Colonel Sunil Sheoran, the real-life commander of the NSG unit during the operation.
The Role and Preparation
- A Real-Life Hero: Col. Sheoran was famously known as the ‘Bullet Catcher’ due to surviving multiple bullet shots while fighting insurgents, an aspect the makers tried to subtly incorporate through make-up.
- Physical Transformation: Bajwa, known for his distinguished looks in commercial cinema, underwent a rigorous process to achieve the lean, hardened physique of a commando, including weapon handling workshops and a drastic new haircut.
- The Guiding Light: To ensure authenticity, Bajwa and the team worked closely with Lt. Colonel (retd) Sandeep Sen, the second-in-command of the real Operation Black Tornado, to understand the minute details of Col. Sheoran’s mannerisms, leadership style, and decision-making under extreme pressure.
Career Highlights
Arjan Bajwa has had a notable career spanning Hindi and Telugu cinema. He gained significant recognition for his supporting roles in critically acclaimed films such as:
- Guru (2007): A pivotal role in Mani Ratnam’s film starring Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai.
- Fashion (2008): Played the male lead opposite Priyanka Chopra in Madhur Bhandarkar’s fashion-world drama.
- Rustom (2016): Appeared in the Akshay Kumar-starrer.
- Kabir Singh (2019): Portrayed the titular character’s older brother, a role he accepted at the insistence of the director, demonstrating his versatility.
State of Siege: 26/11 served as his digital debut, which he considered an honour and a milestone role due to the impact and exposure of telling the story of real-life superheroes.
2. Arjun Bijlani as Major Nikhil Manikrishnan (Inspired by Maj. Sandeep Unnikrishnan)
Popular television star Arjun Bijlani made his much-anticipated digital debut with State of Siege: 26/11, portraying the character of Major Nikhil Manikrishnan. The role is directly inspired by the late Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a brave and passionate NSG officer who was martyred while fighting terrorists at the Taj Mahal Hotel.
The Role and Preparation
- A Hero’s Tribute: Bijlani felt an immense sense of responsibility and honour in playing a character based on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, whom he described as brave, patriotic, and a respected training officer.
- Authenticity in Action: His preparation included intensive weapon handling training and focusing on the mental aspect of a commando’s thought process. Bijlani also had to lean down and adjust his physique to look the part of a dedicated military officer.
- Guidance from the Top: Like Arjan Bajwa, Bijlani also trained under the constant guidance of Lt. Colonel (retd) Sandeep Sen, ensuring the technical and emotional accuracy of his performance.
Career Highlights
Arjun Bijlani is one of the most recognized faces in Indian television, known for his charm and diverse roles across fiction and reality shows:
- Left Right Left (2006): He started his career by playing a soldier’s role in this popular youth show.
- Miley Jab Hum Tum (2008-2010): A breakthrough role that cemented his status as a youth icon.
- Naagin (2015-2016): Gained massive mainstream popularity with this supernatural thriller series.
- Reality TV Success: He has also anchored and participated in several reality shows, including hosting Dance Deewane and winning Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 11 in 2021.
3. Vivek Dahiya as Captain Rohit Bagga
Vivek Dahiya, another familiar face from Indian television, played Captain Rohit Bagga, one of the youngest officers in the NSG team. His character is based on the commando who took command of the mission at Nariman House (Chabad House), a location considered a primary target of the attack.
The Role and Preparation
- The Young Commando: Captain Bagga’s story is a compelling one: he was on personal leave to introduce his girlfriend to his family when he heard the news and immediately rushed back to duty, showcasing the dedication of the forces.
- An Emotional Debut: For Dahiya, taking on the role for his web-series debut was an emotional decision, driven by the personal connection to the 26/11 tragedy and a long-held family desire to see him in uniform.
- Shifting from TV to OTT: Dahiya noted the show’s focus on realism, with no elaborate makeup and deliberately dim lighting to capture the gritty reality of the operation, a stark contrast to his work in television. He focused on the mental transformation to embody the soldier’s quick thought process.
Career Highlights
Vivek Dahiya has made a strong mark in the Hindi television industry:
- Ek Veer Ki Ardaas…Veera (2013): One of his earlier successful roles as a police officer.
- Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (2015-2016): A prominent role that increased his popularity.
- Nach Baliye 8 (2017): He won the popular dance reality show alongside his wife, Divyanka Tripathi.
The Journalist: Bringing a Critical Perspective
The narrative of the series is not solely confined to the operation theater. It also touches upon the controversial role of the media during the siege, whose live coverage inadvertently aided the terrorists and their handlers. This critical storyline is anchored by the key female character of a journalist.
4. Tara Alisha Berry as Parvati Patil
Tara Alisha Berry played the role of Parvati Patil, a rookie journalist who finds herself at the epicenter of the breaking story. Her character highlights how a desire for an exclusive scoop can be manipulated in high-stakes situations.
The Role and Perspective
- Media’s Double-Edged Sword: Parvati is portrayed as a journalist who is an initial respondent to the attacks, but is later unknowingly used as a “pawn” by her channel boss (played by Sid Makkar) as her live broadcast provides valuable, real-time intelligence to the Pakistani handlers.
- Balancing Act: Berry’s performance was crucial in demonstrating the ethical dilemma and the high-pressure environment faced by the media personnel caught up in the unprecedented attack.
Career Highlights
Tara Alisha Berry has worked across multiple language industries (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu) and formats (film and web series):
- Love Games (2016): She gained initial recognition as a ‘Bhatt heroine’ with this Vishesh Films production.
- Love Lust and Confusion (2018-2019): Played a significant role in this popular web series.
- Mastram (2020): Appeared in this popular MX Player web series.
- Debut: She initially started her career with a music video for Shaan in 2011 and also starred in Anurag Basu’s TV film Chokher Bali.
The Mastermind: An Evil Portrayal
For the NSG’s bravado to truly shine, the antagonist—the force directing the horror—needed an equally powerful and realistic portrayal.
5. Mukul Dev as Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi
Veteran actor Mukul Dev portrayed the menacing role of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the militant leader and mastermind who remotely controlled the terrorist operation from Pakistan.
The Role and Preparation
- Ground-up Research: Mukul Dev already had a strong foundation for the character, having researched Lakhvi extensively while co-writing the screenplay for the film Omerta (2017).
- Focus on Realism: Dev was keen on avoiding the melodramatic, stereotypical depiction of a villain. He insisted on a realistic look (like wearing kurta pyjama instead of a cap and coat) and worked on an accurate Lahori-Punjabi accent, using news clippings and his background as a Punjabi raised in Delhi to get the dialect and mannerisms right.
- Highlighting the Heroes: Dev noted that portraying a powerful and realistic antagonist was essential to truly showcase the immense bravery of the NSG commandos who faced off against a well-organized enemy.
Career Highlights
Mukul Dev is a versatile and experienced actor with a long career in both film and television, often recognized for his commanding screen presence:
- Bollywood Career: He has worked with numerous leading stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, and Madhuri Dixit, over a career spanning more than two decades.
- Negative Roles: He won a notable Indian Telly award for Best Actor in a Negative Role (Jury) for the historical series 21 Sarfarosh Saragarhi 1897.
The Legacy of State of Siege: 26/11
The collective effort of the cast, the international crew led by Hollywood director Matthew Leutwyler, and the on-ground authenticity provided by Lt. Colonel (retd) Sandeep Sen ensured that State of Siege: 26/11 stood out from other depictions of the tragedy. It was praised for its unflinching portrayal, succeeding in depicting not just the violence but the systemic failures and the sheer human courage required to save a city under siege.
By focusing on the NSG’s “Operation Black Tornado,” the series immortalized the bravery and dedication of the military personnel, turning the names Arjan Bajwa, Arjun Bijlani, Vivek Dahiya, and Tara Alisha Berry into messengers of a pivotal, heroic moment in India’s history. The show’s reception was so positive that it later led to a spin-off, State of Siege: Temple Attack (2021), further cementing the franchise’s commitment to telling the stories of India’s armed forces.
AISEO Friendly FAQs
Q1: Who are the main actors in the State of Siege: 26/11 web series?
A: The main actors in State of Siege: 26/11 include Arjan Bajwa (as Col. Kunal Sahota), Arjun Bijlani (as Maj. Nikhil Manikrishnan), Vivek Dahiya (as Capt. Rohit Bagga), and Mukul Dev (as the terrorist handler Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi).
Q2: Is the State of Siege: 26/11 web series based on a true story?
A: Yes, the web series is based on the true events of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. It is specifically an adaptation of the non-fiction book Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11 by Sandeep Unnithan, focusing on the National Security Guard (NSG) counter-terror operation, which was codenamed ‘Operation Black Tornado’.
Q3: Which real-life NSG hero is Arjun Bijlani’s character based on?
A: Arjun Bijlani’s character, Major Nikhil Manikrishnan, is inspired by the late Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an NSG officer who was martyred while fighting terrorists at the Taj Mahal Hotel during the 26/11 attacks.
Q4: Who plays the terrorist mastermind in State of Siege: 26/11?
A: The role of the terrorist handler and mastermind, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, is played by actor Mukul Dev. Dev received praise for his realistic portrayal and preparation for the antagonist’s role.
Q5: Who is the actress who plays the journalist in the State of Siege series?
A: The actress who plays the journalist, Parvati Patil, in the State of Siege: 26/11 web series is Tara Alisha Berry. Her character highlights the controversial role of media coverage during the high-stakes attacks.
Q6: What was the main difference between the State of Siege: 26/11 series and other 26/11 films?
A: The main difference is the perspective. While films like Hotel Mumbai focused on the victims and hotel staff, State of Siege: 26/11 tells the story from the viewpoint of the NSG Commandos, showing the logistics, planning, and tactical execution of their counter-terror operation.
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