Saif Ali Khan, known for his suave and metropolitan characters, has opened up about the behind-the-scenes struggles he faced to prove his versatility beyond romantic comedies. With his latest series 'Kartavya' earning praise for his gritty portrayal of a Haryanvi cop, drawing inevitable comparisons to his iconic Langda Tyagi from 'Omkara', the actor revealed that convincing filmmakers of his range has been a recurring challenge throughout his career.
Saif Ali Khan Reveals He Was Offered Akshaye Khanna's Role in 'Race'
Saif acknowledged that roles requiring a rougher, more complex edge rarely come his way. In an interview with News18, he said, 'I had to convince filmmakers that I can be more than a metrosexual guy a couple of times,' reflecting on a pattern that has defined some of his most celebrated work.
He also disclosed that the makers of 'Race' initially wanted him to play the role that eventually went to Akshaye Khanna. 'Even in 'Race', they wanted me to play Akshaye Khanna's role. It was an amazing role, but I told them that I want to play the elder brother, who's a little more responsible,' Saif explained.
The pattern, he noted, stems from his earlier commercial success in lighter fare. He added, 'I had had successes in romantic comedies and lighter roles. So, it took a leap of faith to cast me in more serious roles.'
Saif Ali Khan Talks About Langda Tyagi from 'Omkara'
Interestingly, 'Omkara', arguably his most celebrated departure from type, is one role Saif said he would never have pursued on his own. The actor shared, 'I can't say the same for 'Omkara'. The decision was up to Vishal (Bhardwaj) ji. I would never have asked for that part because I would've never gone there. I would've never thought of even doing a role like that on my own. He thought of casting me in 'Omkara'. But these serious, calmer and cooler guys are parts that people don't usually come to me with.'
More About 'Kartavya'
Directed by Pulkit, 'Kartavya' stars Saif Ali Khan as SHO Pawan Malik of Jhamli. The film also features Sanjay Mishra, Rasika Duggal, Saurabh Dwivedi, Zakir Hussain, and Manish Chaudhari. It premiered on Netflix on May 15, 2026.
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