While Saif Ali Khan may not guarantee box office success every time, he’s widely regarded as a dependable actor whose presence tends to elevate a film. That said, his latest streaming releases, ‘Kartavya’ and ‘Jewel Thief’, haven’t quite won over audiences, with both falling short of what viewers had hoped for. Saif recently addressed this in an interview, admitting his own disappointment with projects like ‘Kartavya’ and ‘Devara’, and noting that certain creative choices, ones that were never actually implemented, could have made a real difference to how these films turned out.
Saif Ali Khan says every film should count
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, the actor said, “I think I am lucky to have done films like ‘Omkara’ and ‘Kartavya’. At least you get cast in some of these projects because people think there’s perhaps more to you. I think I need to attract more of those kinds of films, and I want to push myself further at this stage of my career. When I look back, at the last couple of years, you realise that you survive as an actor. Somebody pays you, and that’s great. I did Devara. I thought it would take two months because the role and the pitch sounded exciting, but it ended up taking much longer. Suddenly, you’ve spent almost a year on one film. Yes, you got paid, and maybe it covered one child’s education or took care of other responsibilities, but where is the film that makes it all worthwhile? Every film should count. I keep asking myself, ‘Why am I doing this?’ I am at a stage where I want every next film to matter.”
Saif Ali Khan opens up on Kartavya’s rushed release and unresolved ending
On the subject of ‘Kartavya’, Saif remarked, “Kartavya is fortunate that Red Chillies gave it to Netflix because it was actually completed three years ago. Had it released when it was made, it would have felt much fresher. We had also discussed changes to the ending. I remember writing about it because we all felt the villain should have faced consequences and been arrested. If we had pushed a little harder, it might have happened. But for some reason, these things happen and we let it go.”
Saif Ali Khan admits nobody insisted on the change
Saif conveyed his regret over the film, saying, “Looking back, everyone saw it, yet nobody insisted that this change was necessary. Almost all the feedback I received from friends and well-wishers was that they liked the film, but they felt the villain should have been brought to justice. Maybe that’s was Pulkit’s point. It is more realistic. ”
Saif Ali Khan’s on-screen villain who got away
Saurabh Dwivedi took on the role of the main villain in the film. Despite this, the ending saw Saif Ali Khan’s character avenging his brother and sister-in-law’s deaths by killing his own father, the one responsible. Notably, the central antagonist walked away without facing any consequences by the time the film ended.
