Saif Ali Khan is once again grabbing attention ahead of his upcoming Netflix thriller Kartavya, where he steps into the shoes of a police officer battling morality, duty and personal sacrifice. While audiences remember his intense turn as Sartaj Singh in Sacred Games, very few know that Saif’s first brush with a police uniform dates back to the 1994 entertainer Main Khiladi Tu Anari.

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In a recent interaction with Dainik Jagran, the actor looked back at the film and made a candid revelation about its inspiration. He also opened up about the discouraging advice he once received from a filmmaker regarding cop roles.

“We just lifted and copied” – Saif’s Honest Admission

Speaking about the film, Saif shared, “The first time I wore a police uniform was in the ’90s in a comedy film. I was playing an actor who had to portray a cop. So, he studies under Akshay Kumar, who was playing a cop in the film. It was a fun movie, which we copied from an American film without taking any rights. We just lifted and copied the American film The Hard Way.”

The actor’s statement has reignited conversations around how several Bollywood films in the ’90s drew heavily from Hollywood storylines without official adaptations or rights.

Akshay Kumar and Saif’s chemistry in the movie had become one of the biggest highlights of the era, turning the action-comedy into a memorable box-office success despite its similarities to the Hollywood film The Hard Way.

The Director Who Told Saif Never To Play A Cop

Saif further revealed that a director once believed he simply did not have the personality suited for police roles.

He recalled, “My director told me, ‘Never play a cop. You can’t do it. It’s a very serious thing to do. Big stars with a lot of presence play cops. You do romantic comedies, don’t play a cop.'” 

That advice, according to Saif, stayed with him for years and affected his confidence whenever he attempted similar characters onscreen.

Sacred Games Changed Everything

The actor admitted that he carried those doubts for a long time.

“That fear always remained. Later, when I started playing cops, I think until Sacred Games, I always felt maybe I couldn’t pull it off,” he said.

However, his transformation over the years eventually helped him embrace more layered and intense performances.

Reflecting on his journey, Saif said, “I’ve grown up in this business. I’ve spent more of my life on camera than off it. People have watched me from my 20s till 55, for better or worse. Hopefully, there have been some changes. I’ve grown up, and the fact that I can now play a cop is huge for me because that director used to laugh at me and say, ‘Never do it.’”

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Back With Akshay After Nearly Two Decades

On the work front, Saif Ali Khan will next be seen in Kartavya, where he essays the role of Pawan, a conflicted police officer torn between responsibility and conscience. 

Interestingly, the actor has also reunited with Akshay Kumar after 18 years for Haiwaan, directed by Priyadarshan. The reunion has already sparked nostalgia among fans who fondly remember the iconic pairing from Main Khiladi Tu Anari.