Meena Iyer (DNA; November 10, 2018)

Twelve years after they acted together in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara, Saif Ali Khan and Ajay Devgn will now be seen in Taanaji: The Unsung Warrior. The Nawab of Pataudi plays the antagonist, Udaybhan Rathod, in Ajay’s ambitious venture. The two actors share a good equation ever since they shared screen space for the first time in Milan Luthria’s Kachche Dhaage (1999).

“I’m excited about working with Ajay. He’s a confident, cool guy. We haven’t yet shot together for Taanaji, but I’ve completed a schedule, which marks my introduction,” says Saif. He adds, “It was an incredible experience. I sported some cool clothes designed by Nachiket (Barve). I love it when talented people come from artistic sides. Director Om Raut has a great grip on graphics, CGI and VFX. Initially, I was a bit worried about getting into a film that is so CGI-heavy, but it’s a huge project.”

Saif is keen to portray Udaybhan, the Rajput officer who was appointed by Aurangzeb’s general to protect the Kondana Fort, which Shivaji’s general Taanaji attacked in a bid to recapture it.

He explains, “My character is an anti-hero. As the director says, he happens to be on the wrong side. Filming this historical has been a fascinating experience. I get to don some amazing costumes and do sword-fighting sequences within the comforts of an air-conditioned floor in Film City. It was opposite to what I had experienced while shooting for Navdeep Singh’s Hunter. The revenge saga has heavy action scenes, but I haven’t got over it yet. I’m still shaking in the night like a war veteran who comes home, shell-shocked slightly.”