From ‘Sacred Games’ to ‘Kartavya’: Saif Ali Khan discovers himself anew in police roles

Staff Report: PNN

Once, a filmmaker told Saif Ali Khan that he would never look believable in a police role. That comment once deeply hurt him. However, over time, through his acting skills, the Bollywood actor has proven that perception wrong.

Recently, in the Netflix-released film “Kartavya”, Saif has received praise from audiences and critics for portraying a complex and conflicted police officer. During the trailer launch event, he recalled an early memory from his career while speaking to the media.

Saif said that he first wore a police uniform in the climax scene of “Main Khiladi Tu Anari”. At that time, the director told him never to attempt serious police roles again, as he did not look convincing in the uniform.

Reflecting on that memory, the actor said he is surprised that audiences now accept him in such roles. He believes that if an artist continuously works and improves, they can eventually overcome all limitations.

He highlighted “Sacred Games” as a turning point in his acting career. Playing the role of police officer Sartaj Singh gave him new confidence, he said.

Saif also explained his perspective on portraying police characters, saying that the essence lies not in the uniform but in making the humanity of the character believable. However, he also noted that the uniform itself adds a sense of authority and responsibility, which is important for performance.

He expressed excitement about his new film “Kartavya”, saying it allowed him to portray an ordinary person in a new light. According to him, one of the greatest achievements for an actor is earning a director’s trust in diverse roles.

Recalling another milestone, Saif spoke about “Omkara” and his character Langda Tyagi. He said he had long been typecast as a city-bred, elite actor, so he was surprised when Vishal Bhardwaj cast him in that role. That decision, he said, changed the trajectory of his career.

He added that actors are often confined to certain types of roles, and breaking that boundary is one of the biggest challenges in the profession.

His Haryanvi accent in “Kartavya” has already drawn attention. He said mastering a role requires not only memorizing dialogues but also understanding local culture, emotions, and rhythm of speech.

Discussing his character Pawan Singh, Saif said the role constantly struggles with moral dilemmas—what is right, whom to protect, and which path to choose.

He also spoke candidly about his personal life, saying family responsibility is one of the most important aspects of his life. Spending time with his children and fulfilling family expectations remain his priority.

On an actor’s responsibility, he said portraying characters honestly and realistically is the core duty of an artist. He also expressed concern about child safety in the modern world, calling it a global issue.