In his post Dil Chahta Hai phase, Saif Ali Khan has managed to carve a niche for himself wherein he is identified with films that are urban in tonality (Omkara and Bullett Raja being exceptions of course), high on style, and designed with a certain amount of international slickness.
Be it romance, comedy or action, Saif’s recent films have all been more multiplex-friendly and the actor hasn’t really done an all-out, OTT, mass potboiler.
With Humshakals, Saif Ali Khan enters the Sajid Khan (who Saif calls an encyclopedia of cinema) zone of comedy, in not one but three roles. Indiatimes.com caught up with Saif on a rainy Saturday at a hotel in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla-Complex to find out more about this transition out of his comfort zone.
In terms of performance and approach - Has Humshakals been your most spontaneous film in a long time?
Yes that’s right.
I told Sajid Khan that I am going to copy him. I told him to tell me what I must do on the day of the shoot. Though Sajid insisted on preparing beforehand, I told him not to give me a narration, as I knew he would change it on set.
But as an actor is that more relaxing or a lot more challenging for you?
Sometimes while we were performing he would cut the shot and say ‘Mazaa Nahi Aa Raha…Ab Aise Karte Hai’ and change everything.
So initially that was taxing and frightening, but after a point you begin trusting him, so the overall experience of working on Humshakals has been liberating.
This kind of entertainment is not for inexperienced actors. Such a role is not normal because you are working on a blank slate. It’s like swimming in the deep end. This is not a safe zone, and anything can happen. Ten years back I would not have been able to do a Humshakals.
Were there any initial apprehensions or reservations because your personal style of comedy is more in the Hum Tum space?
No not all. I wanted to work with him. And that’s because I think we should all get out of our comfort zones and try something different.
Sajid Khan works very hard to entertain people. And his films are like all-India comedies. His Housefull films have made more money than my films. So that’s the idea. One wants to do films that have a wider appeal and reach. This is what people want to see.
So if you want to make a big comedy with an all-India appeal! Who do you do it with? Sajid Khan is among the top names in this space.
Humshakals is quite a departure from the edgy Saif that we have been seeing…
Bullett Raja was a lot of fun and I found it interesting to watch, but I really don't know what went wrong. People say it felt like it was neither here nor there. The film made the money that a Tigmanshu Dhulia film is expected to. But the numbers couldn’t go beyond that.
Also production, promotion and releasing a film is not only about money. You need to know how to do it. I think Humshakals may be directed by Sajid Khan, but he is almost like a co-producer when it comes to promoting and publicizing it. Vashu Ji and Sajid know how it’s done, but some of the others can’t manage it so well, even though they are nice people.
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