Interview | Saif Ali Khan: I think more like an actor than a star

Saif Ali Khan is facing a dry spell at the box office, but when it comes to his choices, the actor is making some unconventional moves. After all, not many stars would have attempted something like Kaalakaandi, or maybe jump on the web series bandwagon with Sacred Games. Saif has done all that and despite the misses, he is still raring to go. In this conversation, he talks about what keeps him motivated and why he would like to be labelled as an actor rather than a star. Over to him.

You have time and again visited the dark space in cinema. Does it excite you?

You are right. I have always enjoyed this space. After all, the idea is to do everything and be creative. When you are doing some mad stuff, it’s fun. After that, you just come home and have fun. There’s nothing like it, right? I think a good actor’s need is to be saleable and at the same time, they should be trying to make some out-of-the-box choices in movies. It’s interesting to do that in art. But yes, you do need to keep an eye on the numbers too.

But no other star really takes up things that you do, whether it’s the films or the web series you’re part of.

(Cuts in) I quite like the reputation of being an actor as well. I would happily not be called a star. I think more like an actor than a star. I want to be creatively satisfied, feel good doing it and I don’t want to follow rules. All this doesn’t worry me at all. As long as I have integrity and I’m working hard, I’m fine.

Was there ever a time when you felt that you didn’t invest yourself completely in your films?

There was a point of time in my life when I was lazy and laid-back. But not anymore! Today, I’m up at 7 am, ready to go to the sets and I enjoy doing that. There’s no room for any kind of fear. There are times when people call something interesting and they don’t work. Sometimes, something absolutely outlandish works terrifically. There are some things that are out of control. But people in India, I think, want to watch a different kind of cinema.

But then there were films which you were very vocal about but they didn’t work. Have you ever introspected why they weren’t working?

See, for example, Chef was one film where I got good reviews but it didn’t work. The director didn’t want to add drama although there was plenty in Airlift. The publicity of the film, too, was wrong. There was no buzz. You need to spend money on that. Doing interviews is one thing but there needs to be a good push to the trailer and there should be hoardings. None of that happened on Chef. People don’t want to spend money on a film’s marketing which is why they will just send you to TV shows but what they don’t understand is, that doesn’t help anyone at all. If the audience likes the trailer, they will go. Dancing on train stations and shouting from rooftops about your film won’t help you.

And there’s Sacred Games. Was it tough?

It is hectic. They shoot at least 12 hours and they don’t break for lunch. I have been given 20 minutes only to have my food. Next season, I will have a proper contract (smiles cheekily).

How’s it been working with Vikramaditya Motwane?

It’s been really interesting. Vikram is a very good director, watches closely and gets the best out of his actors. I’m happy I’m working with him at this stage of my life where I’m already pretty good at it, I believe. He can tune it and ask me to watch certain areas. He’s a rare breed and we are also trying to compete with the rest of the world. He’s making something special.

But do you like directors nudging you or telling you what to do?

I’m a director’s actor so I would like to be told. Sometimes, I agree and sometimes, I don’t. But I would still like to have feedback. If I trust my director and I do what he wants, it works well. Which is why a responsible person is required. After all, my first audience is the director. If I trust the filmmaker, I’m comfortable. A director’s job is the most difficult because they have to make the whole film.