Saif Ali Khan and filmmaker Priyadarshan are coming together for the first time for Haiwaan. In the film, Saif plays a visually challenged character, giving him an opportunity to explore a role that is different from many of his earlier performances. While the trailer has already offered viewers a glimpse of his character, the actor has now opened up about his experience of working with Priyadarshan. Saif revealed that when he was younger, he wondered if his acting style would match the filmmaker’s world. However, he now feels that they met at the right time and that this collaboration happened at the perfect stage of his career.
Talking about his first impression of Priyadarshan, Saif praised the director for his long and varied body of work. He also spoke about the filmmaker’s calm personality and said that he once felt their professional worlds might be very different. Saif shared, “The first impression was just this massive body of work and how many varied films he had done and what a prolific director he was and what a calm and cool personality. When I was younger, I thought perhaps our worlds, I was wondering how we would match because I wasn’t very well trained as an actor. I kind of knew how to do certain kind of rom-com but I didn’t know if I’d fit into his world. Even though he’s got different genres, I don’t know how good I would have been but I think we met at the right time where I understand a little bit more of what’s expected of me now,”
Saif was particularly impressed by Priyadarshan’s disciplined way of working. He said the director is very clear about what he wants and does not spend unnecessary time on set. “I really enjoyed working with him more than I’ve enjoyed working with anyone because he’s so economical and doesn’t waste any time and is so clear on what he wants that second-guessing and wondering and insecurity is just not there,” Saif shared. He explained that he enjoys working in a focused environment where everyone knows what needs to be done and the shoot finishes on time.
The actor also recalled a memorable incident involving violin players on the sets of Haiwaan. Saif said Priyadarshan once asked a group of musicians to leave because their performance was not the quality he wanted. A new group travelled from Andheri after the earlier musicians were sent back from Town in South Mumbai. Despite this change, the team still managed to finish three hours early. For Saif, the incident showed how efficiently the filmmaker works.
Saif also praised Priyadarshan’s ability to combine creative thinking with commercial filmmaking. He recalled how the director used a dark setting for a parking lot scene because Saif’s character is visually challenged. According to the actor, this showed how Priyadarshan could turn a practical challenge into part of the storytelling.
Calling the experience a blessing at this stage of his career, Saif said working with Priyadarshan and getting such a role was a “real treat” for him. Haiwaan is scheduled to release in theatres on 11th September.