Kaalakaandi is Saif Ali Khan’s 60th film but that’s not the only reason why he is excited about it. The Bollywood superstar feels that for a first-time director, Akshat Verma has outdone himself. “I’ve made a lot of movies with a lot of people and I can say that Akshat is an accomplished director. Kaalakaandi has good performances and a nicely-orchestrated story. He has done it well as he is also the writer of the film. He seems quirky but he has made a commercial film.”

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Besides Saif, the ensemble cast of the dark comedy includes Deepak Dobriyal, Vijay Raaz, Akshay Oberoi, Neil Bhoopalam, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Sobhita Dhulipala, Shenaz Treasury, Shivam Patil, Amyra Dastur, and Isha Talwar. The film has three story tracks — one with Akshay and Saif, the other features Vijay and Deepak, while the third has Kunaal and Sobhita. 

Saif adds, “This is the first movie that I have done, whose language I like. In each of these stories, the actors speak the language that they are most comfortable with. For instance, my character talks in English and Hindi because that’s the way most of us city folks converse. We talk to our peers in English, converse with our domestic help in Hindi and, perhaps, at home we speak our mother tongue. 

Akshat has maintained this throughout Kaalakaandi. That’s something I enjoyed because it made things organic. So, I feel the comedy works.”

Produced by Cinestaan Film Company and Ashi Dua Sara of Flying Unicorn, Kaalakaandi releases today.