Saif Ali Khan has said that it took him a long time to find his place as an actor. Things started to change when he played Sameer in the 2001 film ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, directed by Farhan Akhtar. After that, he became known as the stylish, modern guy of Bollywood. But ten years ago, a very different kind of film showed a tougher and more serious side of him, something he later explored further in ‘Laal Kaptaan’ (2019), ‘Sacred Games’, and his new film, ‘Kartavya’.
Saif Ali Khan looks back at the highlights of his career
In an interview with Screen, Saif said, “When you look back at your career, not everything is a highlight. There are some highlights, and that’s good enough. Omkara is definitely something I’m proud of. Sacred Games even more so, in a way. I don’t think if there’s a connection between the two, but they both stood out when you look back at some pieces of work that stand out in shining letters”.
The wake-up call that changed Saif Ali Khan
The actor didn’t find this side of himself on his own. It took a straight-talking conversation with his mother, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore, to open his eyes. “There was a time when she told me you’re not sounding like a very interesting actor. You have to balance your choices and think more creatively. That was when I was taking things for granted a bit,” recalls Saif. He doesn’t quite remember when this happened, “It’s been a while, and there have been phases”, but he has shared before that it started when he told his mother he was excited to shoot a film in France. She didn’t share his excitement. “When are you going to tell me you’re doing an interesting role?,” asked Sharmila. Saif takes it in good spirit and understands where she was coming from. “She saw more potential. So, she was nudging me in her way to wake up,” admits Saif, smiling.“I don’t know if it should be seen as a relief,” Saif argues. “There have always been all kinds of filmmakers. There are some commercial ones with their eyes on the Friday number, which means there’s a certain kind of energy required for that, whatever that is, I don’t know. But then there are some filmmakers with more artistic scope, who didn’t have an option but to release their films in the same way,” he adds.
Why Saif Ali Khan thinks streaming is a game changer
Saif believes streaming has given filmmakers a whole new way to tell stories. He calls it “an important, alternate expression” given to some of these filmmakers. For him, it opens doors to stories that may never make it to the big screen. “There are some films I’d love to work in, which people wouldn’t take a chance with to release in theatres. But I think even Netflix and other streaming platforms want you to get entertained, so it’s all eventually competitive,” he adds.
