Saif Ali Khan: The underrated master of experiments and bold choices

Saif Ali Khan has proved his mettle time and again as an actor without limiting himself to his comfort zone. In a career spanning over three decades, the actor has managed to stay relevant thanks to his bold choices and ability to take risks. 

Netflix’s latest offering Jewel Thief opened to mixed reviews by fans and critics. While some lauded the film for its scaling and packaging, others opined that the film is just another generic actioner with a predictable plot. Saif Ali Khan’s effortless charm and smokin’ hot looks, however, got the audience raving and added to the efficacy of the film along with Jaideep Alhawat's brilliance of course. The outing witnessed Saif seamlessly slipping into the role of Rehan Roy, a charming con artist who is magnetic, complex, and simply charismatic.

The film, despite its flaws, served as a testament to Saif’s ability to captivate the audience and thus remain relevant in the industry for over three decades now. Relevance is a simple word commonly plugged in now and then in our day-to-day conversations. However, the word carries a lot of gravitas, especially in the entertainment industry. There is a famous saying that goes ‘Creativity is easy, originality is difficult, relevance is a b*tch’ and I believe nothing sums up this game of fame better. Saif's ability to reinvent, experiment, and make bold film choices has been pivotal in maintaining his relevance in this volatile film industry. He's always been open to doing varied roles across genres, platforms, and industries, and has well adapted to the ever-evolving audience preferences, proving his versatility as an actor. 

Here we take a look at the factors that have helped Saif in this cause! 

Diversity of roles and genres 

Saif’s acting career is marked by diverse roles and genres. He's been flexible in his approach towards his films and has done it all, romantic leads, second leads, comedic roles, layered anti-heroes, and even multistarrers. After some forgettable outings in the 90s, Saif finally found his zone and witnessed success in rom-coms and coming-of-age genres. His roles as a carefree urban loverboy in Dil Chahta Hai, Salaam Namaste, and Hum Tum struck a chord with the young urban audience and made him one of the most sought-after actors in this genre during the 2000s.

However, even in that phase he did not limit himself to romantic roles and forayed into complex anti-hero characters as well. The actor earned great critical acclaim for playing a manipulative businessman in Ek Hasina Thi. Omkara saw him stepping completely out of his comfort zone as he portrayed an Indianised version of Lago from Shakespeare's Othello. The role was a milestone in Saif’s career as it broke his ‘chocolate boy’ image and showcased his versatility as an actor. Race, the neo-noir action crime film where he played the conniving and all-powerful businessman Rony was critically acclaimed and raked up good numbers commercially. 

Saif also tried his hand at out and out antagonist roles and was lauded by the audience. His work as the fierce Udaybhan Rathod in Tanhaji, cunning Lakesh in Adipurush, and the menacing Bhaira in Devara: Part 1, testified to his ability to dominate as a villain in period actioners. 

Ability to experiment and take risks

Despite commercial risks, Saif rarely hesitated in making unconventional career choices. Be it Laal Kaptaan which witnessed the veteran actor portray a vengeful Naga sadhu, sporting an intense look with long hair, kohl-clad eyes, and a bandana on the head that impressed the critics with his nuanced portrayal of the character and the ability to challenge the norms. Or Go Goa Gone, which explored a zombie comedy probably for the first time in Hindi cinema and got cinema enthusiasts talking with his all-blonde look becoming an instant hit. 

Adaptation and reinvention  

It won't be an exaggeration to call Saif a pioneer of India’s OTT space. The actor was the first commercial Bollywood star to venture into a streaming platform with Netflix’s first original series, Sacred Games. Saif as Sartaj Singh delivered a layered and power-packed performance that earned him global acclaim. Also, the show’s massive success paved the way for other artists and storytellers to foray into this territory and the rest is history.  

Saif’s move into the Telugu film industry with Devara: Part 1 mirrored his knack for adapting to the newer trends, in this case, the trend of participating in pan-Indian ventures as South Indian industries are creating a riot at the box office even in the Hindi speaking belts. Saif’s Bhaira opposite Jr. NTR contributed to the film’s commercial success and helped him become a household name among South Indian audiences.  

Surviving in the industry for thirty years and being a part of over 60 films is no small feat for an actor and Saif has done so with a lot of grace, passion, and sincerity. He has skillfully juggled between commercial blockbusters and niche experiments cementing his place as a respectable actor along with being a commercially viable star. 

What do you think of his journey so far? Tell us in the comments below!

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