Playing a righteous cop in Vikram Vedha, Saif credits director duo Pushkar-Gayathri for beautifully conveying a philosophical message through the crime thriller
Saif Ali Khan
Certain stories deserve a wider audience. Saif Ali Khan believes the 2017 Tamil film, Vikram Vedha, is one of them. The actor is currently in Lucknow, neck-deep in the shoot of its Hindi adaptation. After Hrithik Roshan — who slips into the role of the gangster, essayed by Vijay Sethupathi in the original — completed the first schedule of the thriller in the UAE last month, it was time for Khan to step into R Madhavan’s shoes as an honest cop. Over the past few weeks, director duo Pushkar-Gayathri have shot portions near Gomti Nagar and old Lucknow with him.
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Hrithik Roshan with director duo Pushkar-Gayathri
“It’s an excellent script. Vikram Vedha is a movie that makes you think,” begins Khan. The noir thriller revolves around righteous police inspector Vikram, who prides himself on his morals. When he is asked to lead an encounter unit to kill Vedha and subsequently crosses paths with him, the gangster narrates three stories that change the cop’s perspective of right and wrong. Khan says the credit rests with the writer-director duo who have gone beyond a cop actioner to delve into a deeper conflict. “On one level, it’s an action movie, a thriller and a mystery, but it has also got a philosophical [element] that makes you think. The story is deeply satisfying on many levels. While it is a challenging film, it is also the cleverest script I have read in a long time.”
R Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi headlined the 2017 original
The actor had last donned the khaki uniform to portray troubled inspector Sartaj Singh in Sacred Games. Where Sartaj was a victim of his circumstances, he says encounter specialist Vikram is his antithesis. “Vikram is a highly intelligent, courageous, cool and successful cop. He is confident about what he wants.” Khan admits that breathing life into this role won’t be easy, but the actor — relying as much on instinct as on experience — can surprise his fans with his nuanced performances. “Any kind of maturing helps you understand [roles better]. I find myself improving with time,” he says.
Also Read: Saif Ali Khan: For me, best homework is when I’m in costume
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