Saif Ali Khan calls Adipurush controversy ‘unsettling’: Not here to make trouble

Actor Saif Ali Khan addressed the controversy surrounding his 2023 film Adipurush during his appearance at the India Today Conclave 2024. He described the court case filed against him by an Uttar Pradesh lawyer and the film’s director, Om Raut, as “a little unsettling,” but also a lesson on the types of roles he will avoid in the future.
Speaking to India Today’s Rahul Kanwal, Saif said, “There was a case and some kind of decision taken by the court that said an actor is responsible for what he says on screen.” Saif portrayed the role of Ravan in Adipurush and had to apologise for stating that the film presents a ‘human’ side of Ravan, as his comment “hurt Hindu sentiments.”
Saif expressed uncertainty about the severity of the issue, saying, “I don’t know how real a problem it is. I know a lot of people are not free to say or do whatever they want. We all have to police ourselves slightly and be a bit careful; otherwise, there could be trouble.”
The 54-year-old actor noted that while it is unsettling, it highlights certain topics that should be approached with caution. “There are certain areas, like religion, that you need to stay away from. There are many stories that we can tell. We are not here to create trouble,” he mentioned.
Adipurush was not the only project that led to backlash for Saif. He also faced criticism for his role as a politician in the Prime Video series Tandav, which was almost cancelled. Reflecting on that experience, he said, “You learn that the next time probably not…if somebody asks me, ‘Would you do the same job again?’ knowing what I know now, I would say, ‘No, it’s asking for trouble.’ Also, I am lucky to get a lot of offers. So, you need to stay away from these areas.”
Saif Ali Khan concluded, “Our profession is to bring the whole country together, irrespective of caste and creed.”
The actor is currently seen in the Telugu drama Devara Part 1, which stars Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor.