Saif Ali Khan is a National Film Award-winning actor. From playing a joyful Karan Kapoor in Hum Tum to the gritty Langda Tyagi in Omkara, he has shown us many shades of his acting abilities. The most recent example of his exemplary acting skills is the Netflix original series, Sacred Games. The actor plays the dutiful, righteous, undermined cop, Sartaj Singh, who has to save Mumbai from the antagonist, Ganesh Gaitonde’s plan. Giving him a stellar competition by playing the said antagonist is another National Film Award winner, Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
We were talking to Saif about the success of Sacred Games and the conversation boiled down to the wonder that is Nawazuddin. Appreciating his co-star, Saif said, “Nawaz is simply amazing. Lends a lot of class and dignity to his roles. He has got like the Aristocratic poise. There is something very watchable about him. We were cast to do Devotion of Suspect X together for Balaji but that didn’t work out. But I am happy this did. He is just so watchable. I knew this is going to be a great role for him when I read it. Perfect casting. And I love the response he is getting.” (ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE! Saif Ali Khan on daughter Sara’s debut: I am not nervous anymore)
Nawazuddin is only an NSD alumnus if we talk about his acting heritage. He has struggled for years before getting recognition in the Indian film industry. Saif further added, “It is so great when somebody just succeeds on talent, you know. And forces people to watch them by being so good. It’s very impressive. I love, love Nawaz.”
Well, Saif, welcome to the ever so growing ‘I Love Nawaz fan club’.
Interestingly, Saif and Nawaz only share one single scene together in the entirety of season 1 of Sacred Games. They both were required to hold ground of their separate stories and narratives in the series. And it is impossible to pick who did a better job.