Saif Ali Khan: Attacking stars easiest way to get attention

A still from Sacred Games

"I wasn't expecting such an overwhelming response," smiles Saif Ali Khan, when we congratulate him on the success of Sacred Games. Based on Vikram Chandra's celebrated novel by the same name, the show has been winning accolades from all and sundry since it dropped online 10 days ago.

Though sold as a platform devoid of the censorship barriers that dominate the movies, the Netflix series, directed by Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, ran into legal trouble last week. A plea was filed in the Delhi High Court seeking to remove certain sections that were allegedly derogatory to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Saif Ali Khan

"Some people try and gain mileage. They watch like hawks for anyone to say anything that can be politically manipulated. For me, as an actor, it's important to be part of the creative journey without worrying too much about this. If the intention is correct - that of making entertaining content - then the idea of offending someone becomes secondary. If it has genuinely hurt people's sentiments, that's another story. But if a situation is motivated by someone trying to get mileage, that's lamentable. People are always looking for attention, and the easiest way to get that is to attack a movie or a movie star," says Khan.

Fully understanding of the dichotomous nature of freedom of speech, the actor emphasises that it is one's approach towards exercising it that makes all the difference. "People are demonstrating against [Donald] Trump in London, and all the mayor has asked of them is that they do it politely. Freedom of speech is great, but the talk about pulling a show off air is destructive. You can't make a movie adhering to the guidelines of how not to offend anyone."

Though Khan has been lauded for his restrained act as the morally upright cop Sartaj Singh, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has walked away with the lion's share of praise. Not one to be insecure, the Nawab of Pataudi says, "Mafia is always more dramatic, more romantic. Nawaz has done a fabulous job. But Sartaj is not monotoned. His addictions, his broken relationship, the lack of success - there was a lot to keep me happily occupied as an actor. I knew that Ganesh Gaitonde had more of the drama to play out. But it didn't stop me from wanting to be Sartaj."

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