Cocktail was a regressive script choice, says Saif Ali Khan

Saif Ali Khan is weighing in on two landmark entries from his career—Cocktail and Humshakals—saying his decision to act in Cocktail was a mistake. In a conversation reported by Gulf News, the actor explained that he took the lead in Cocktail largely because he was producing the film and wanted the project to be completed.

He said, ‘I did the part because we were producing it; it was an inevitable mistake, 100 per cent that was a mistake, and that was a slightly regressive script choice. Otherwise, it was a breezy, fun entertainer.’

He added that his choice wasn’t driven by the appeal of the role, noting, ‘I didn’t do it for the role; I did it so the film could get made. You do things for various reasons.’ He acknowledged that the Veronica part might have been the exciting one, but that it’s one of those things you do anyway.

Saif Ali Khan says he was miscast in Humshakals

Saif also reflected on Sajid Khan’s 2014 comedy Humshakals, admitting that the bigger issue, in his view, was his own casting rather than the film itself. ‘I personally think that I was a miscast in Humshakals because it’s not my thing. Certain actors could really pull that off, and you need a kind of commitment and the ability to make people laugh on a very slightly different level, which perhaps I wasn’t able to convince myself to do or wasn’t just basically good enough in it,’ he said.

The actor also suggested that Sajid Khan may have expected him to approach the comedy in a different way, adding, ‘perhaps… like Akshay Kumar could have done it.’ Nevertheless, he said he stands by the movie and by Khan, and that the industry must stand by its projects.

On the work front, Saif Ali Khan is gearing up for Haiwaan, a crime thriller starring him alongside Akshay Kumar. Directed by Priyadarshan, the film also features Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher in key roles. Haiwaan is scheduled to release in theatres on September 11.

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You can read the original interview here: the original interview.

This reflection shows how production decisions can shape a film’s legacy. Stay tuned to DPIFF for more entertainment coverage, follow related DPIFF stories, or return for future updates.