As the cult classic “Omkara” turns 20, Saif Ali Khan Revisiting the extraordinary coincidence that led to his iconic role in Randa Tyagi Vishal BhardwajAdaptations of Shakespeare. However, Bhardwaj has other plans for him: not Othello, but Randa Tyagi. The actor also recalled Bhardwaj’s memorable casting remarks that his mother Sharmila TagoreAdvice on performing Shakespeare, plus humorous behind-the-scenes anecdotes from filming intense scenes.
Saif Ali Khan recalls the ‘miracle’ that brought him to Omkara: ‘You’re too handsome to play Othello’
As Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Omkara’ celebrates its 20th anniversary, Saif Ali Khan opens up about the remarkable coincidence that gave him one of the most acclaimed performances of his career. The 2006 adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Othello,” set in the rugged landscape of Uttar Pradesh, is widely considered a landmark in Hindi cinema, with Saif winning widespread critical acclaim as the scheming Randa Tyagi.In an interview with IMDb, the actor described Vishal Bhardwaj’s call as a miracle and revealed that it was soon after his mother, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore, encouraged him to play Shakespeare.
Sharmila Tagore’s advice was responded to with incredible phone calls
Saif recalled that he was shooting in Jaipur when he told his mother that he wanted to perform Shakespeare on screen.“My mom was just talking to me and she said, ‘Yeah, you’re becoming an interesting actor and I like the way you’re developing. You should do Shakespeare.’ And I said, ‘That would be great if I could.’ And then she suggested, ‘You should do Othello or something.’ And the phone rang.” This is Vishal Bhardwaj. “The actor said he was shocked when Bhardwaj revealed that he was planning to adapt Shakespeare’s work.“He said, ‘I’m thinking of offering you a movie. I’m thinking of doing Shakespeare.’ I was like, ‘What?’ He said, ‘Yes, Othello.’ I said, ‘What?’ ‘”Initially, Saif thought he would be considered for the lead role, but eventually chose Ajay Devgn, who played Omkara.Bhardwaj, however, had a different personality.“I asked, ‘Should I play Othello?’ and he said, ‘No, no, you’re too handsome to play Othello.'”Instead, Bhardwaj offered him the role of Langda Tyagi, a character inspired by Shakespeare’s Iago.Curious about the unexpected casting, Saif asked the filmmakers what convinced him he was right for the role.“I asked him, ‘Why did you think of me?’ He said, ‘I saw you in Dil Chahta Hai and I really liked it.’ I thought, ‘Dil Chatta Hai? That guy is really cute. “The role went on to become one of the most defining performances of Saif’s career and remains one of the most famous villains in contemporary Hindi cinema.
Saif reveals interesting behind-the-scenes footage of ‘Omkara’
In another conversation with THR India, Saif also shared a humorous memory from the sets of Omkara, which involved an emotional scene with Langda Tyagi. According to the actor, Bhardwaj suggested filming a lengthy mirror monologue without clothes to enhance the character’s vulnerability.“There was a long conversation in front of this mirror. I remember Vishal Ji said, ‘Do you mind being naked?'”Despite being intrigued by the idea, Saif admitted he was hesitant because the set was crowded.“It was a very exciting thing, but I was kind of aware of it because there was a big crowd on the set. So I remember saying to him, ‘Listen, if you direct me to get naked, I’m going to do it.’ And he said, ‘No, I’m not going to.’ So, yeah, that’s the fun part.” “
More information about “Omkara”
“Omkara” was released in 2006 and is considered one of Vishal Bhardwaj’s best works and a landmark adaptation of Shakespeare’s play for Indian audiences. Starring Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma and Vivek Oberoi, the film is known for its powerful performances, memorable dialogues and gritty storytelling.
