Meena Iyer (DNA; October 23, 2018)

Saif Ali Khan is in dual mode. He is at a suburban hotel promoting his October 26 release Baazaar and is also babysitting his one-and-a-half-year-old munchkin, Taimur Ali Khan. But his mood is upbeat. Wearing his hair back in an interesting man bun, the actor allows his make-up artiste to touch up his face for a few seconds after we have entered his hotel suite. He then packs the entire entourage off, saying, “Let me do my interview in peace.” Of course, for those like his immediate manager and a couple of PR girls who insist on hanging around, Saif’s instructions are even clearer. “Choose a corner for yourself, switch off your mobiles and make yourselves inconspicuous,” says the actor before he gives us his undivided attention. Without wasting a second, we ask:

So you are playing the Wolf of the Bombay Stock Exchange in Baazaar?
Kind of, I suppose. People have compared it to Leonardo Di Caprio’s The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) (TWOWS), but actually Baazaar can’t be that. They have drawn parallels to the Michael Douglas-starrer Wall Street (1987), too, which it is probably closer to. But it’s not a copy of anything. Baazaar has got enough originality to keep me excited and engaged. The Indian business community is unique enough to tell its own story. We’ve never seen the Gujarati angadiyas, but there could be a Dallas or Dynasty happening in some of the big homes. TWOWS is a story of corruption and insane excess, which we can’t do in Bollywood, unless we show someone blown out of their heads on 10 grams of cocaine. TWOWS goes hand-in-hand with drugs, partying and excesses, but we’re not in that zone.

Is this your first attempt at playing a Gujarati character?
It probably is. I realised what’s happening in terms of acting, when I watched Bajirao Mastani recently. I felt that we’ve started changing the way we look and sound for every film. I had done it in Omkara (2006), but now it’s become a norm. I sounded like a Punjabi guy in Sacred Games, now I’ve got this Gujarati touch in Baazaar. I was happy I was able to do it because I’ve been a terrible dubber. One of the nannies of my daughter Sara (Ali Khan) was a Gujarati. She used to say, ‘Ainyaan aav, baisi jaao’ and all those things. There are a lot of Gujaratis and Punjabis around us. So subconsciously, one has heard the way they speak.

So you’re playing a grey character in the film?
Yeah, he is the antagonist. He’s the bad guy who looks like the good guy. The film is not really about the stock market. It’s about money and how it’s something you think can be the answer to all your troubles. It raises questions like how far will you go? Will you cross the line? And if you do, where does that lead you? Does money mean so much that it seems like a goal and once you get there, maybe you’ve given up on all the important things that you wanted? Is love more important? What’s money to a rich wife, every powerful businessman and to a struggler? So it means different things to all these people. What I love about the movie is that the background tells you what kind of a film it really is. It’s serious but it’s got soul and morality. It is about good and evil. It’s about a guy on the ledge who is about to commit suicide. It’s not something that is shallow and rushed, it unfolds gradually. For a first-timer like Gauravv (director Gauravv K Chawla) to make something at this pace, it’s impressive. I like these kind of performances and films as they absorb you. You get to entice people, which is interesting.

How was it teaming up with Chitrangda Singh?
I’m very fond of her. She is quite down to earth.

The first season of Sacred Games has earned praise, Baazaar releases this Friday. Next, you have Hunter and Taanaji, besides your home production. In other words, these are busy times.
Hunter with Navdeep (Singh) and Aanand L Rai is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I think when you do something like this, it actually broadens your horizons. You know this is easy to say, but it’s a slightly traumatic experience. It’s a bit painful like exercising, before you build your muscles. It was two hours of make-up followed by an hour of travel in rough terrain! I love cinema and I don’t mind driving and chugging to get to do something difficult in an amazing location. But when it was actually on, it was kind of hard.

Shooting for Hunter was the exact opposite of working in Taanaji that was shot against a green screen. The latter is great for actors as you can concentrate on yourself and your performance. But for Hunter, it was all real; the ravine, the fort and it was magical to bring these places alive, from history. So, many Rajasthani places seem like a dead ghost in the background when you drive past them. But when you go there and dress it up with an army of men and horses, it suddenly comes alive. It’s an impressive experience, and director Navdeep (Singh) is deeply passionate about his work. You have to be a mono maniac of some sorts. You’ve to be obsessed to carry so many people for so long in those circumstances.

I heard Kangana (Ranaut) say that actors don’t like to get their hands dirty. I would like to show to her what we did. I’ve got pictures, where we were shooting during the monsoon and I was covered in mud and flies because of the fake blood, which is sweet. Jeez, it was hard and I would just fantasise about reaching home and getting clean. I would think about getting a bottle of Blue Label and Chinese food and sitting in the balcony (laughs).

Sorry to digress, but what is your take on the #MeToo Movement?
My take is that I hate bullying; it’s something that doesn’t exist in my universe. It’s disgusting, but the attitude needs to change. Many people have been using women, which is sleazy and wrong. It’s great that people are talking about it. If it changes things, and this kind of stuff stops happening and women are safer, then it’s good.

You’ve launched a banner again, Black Knight Films.
Yes. The idea behind Illuminati also was to kind of protect myself. There was a time in the past when big production houses would try and create content for me. Now, they’ve signed their own people. Every big production house has a little camp of their own, which is great, just the way it should be. I want people to look after me and there are enough out there to do so. But I have to find them and hire them. You have to take control of your own destiny and career and say, ‘I want you guys to find me something that’s right for this energy, you know the kind of person I am, what I excel at in terms of work. So let’s find that, create that.’ Also this time, I’d like to own the company rather than be lazy (smiles).

Have you and your partner Jay Shewakramani set any goals, like the number of films you will produce in a year?
There are no goals. He’s taking one film at a time. Or maybe we’ll make two movies at a time. I really like Jay and that’s why we’ve made a good deal. I don’t want him working in my company and then wanting to control him. Let him have his company, let me have mine, we’ll collaborate together on this and tomorrow we can team up with somebody else. I can collaborate with Dinu (Dinesh Vijan) on his film. I’m looking forward to that. It will be balanced because then we’ll have no expectations from each other.

Is another film with Nikkhil Advani also on the cards?
No. The films that are happening at the moment are Taanaji, Hunter, our own home production and Go Goa Gone’s sequel. Imtiaz (Ali) and I have met and chatted. It’s too early to say anything right now, but there maybe something in the future.

BOMBAY TIMES (October 3, 2018)

After the success of the web series, Sacred Games, Saif Ali Khan has not only cemented his position as a talented actor, but also as an artiste who has redefined the rules of showbiz. And now, after successfully backing films like Love Aaj Kal, Agent Vinod and Go Goa Gone among others, he has returned to production with his new banner, Black Knight Films.

The actor-producer has joined hands with long-time friend, Jay Shewakramani of Northern Lights Films. The duo, who last worked together on Race and Race 2, has signed a three–film deal, starting with Jawaani Jaaneman. The family comedy, directed by Nitin Kakkar, will star Saif Ali Khan along with a new face. The casting of the film, which will go on floors in the first half of 2019, is underway.

Says Jay Shewakramani, “I really look forward to this collaboration, as Saif has been a friend for many years. Apart from being an immensely talented star, he is also a sharp entrepreneur. His intelligence and artistic sensibility will be a huge asset to the films we’ve partnered on.”

On his part, Saif Ali Khan adds, “I’ve never shied away from alternate genres and avant garde scripts, and this is going to be as exciting as it gets. Jay and I have been planning this for a while now and with Jawaani Jaaneman, we found just the right project to produce together.”
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Actor returns to production with National Award-winning director Nitin Kakkar’s next, a comedy that rolls in 2019
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 3, 2018)

Mirror has learnt that four years after producing the 2014 romcom Happy Ending, in which he had played the lead opposite Ileana D’Cruz, Saif Ali Khan is returning to production with filmmaker Jay Shewakramani. Their family comedy will feature the 48-year-old actor in the lead and is directed by Nitin Kakkar, whose comedy Filmistaan, with Sharib Hashmi and Inaamulhaq, had won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi in 2013.

Titled Jawani Janeman, the film rolls in the first half of 2019. “I have worked with Saif as a creative producer on Race and Race 2 and we have been good friends since a long time. When I ventured out to produce a film on my own, Saif wanted to get back into it at the same time and this seemed like the perfect project for both of us,” Jay told Mirror, adding, “It is a coming-ofage story of a 40-year-old man and revolves around his relationship with his daughter.”

Nitin’s comedy kicks off the producer duo’s three-film collaboration. “Saif and I are big fans of Filmistaan. When I took the film to Nitin, he loved it and immediately came on board. Saif hasn’t delved into this space for a while now so he decided to produce the film alongside acting in it,” the filmmaker added.

Hussain Dalal, who wrote dialogues for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, 2 States and Fanney Khan, and is also a part of Ayan Mukerji’s Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt-starrer Brahmastra, has written dialogues for Saif’s film too. “The idea is to make a really funny film and Hussain is already ready with his draft,” Jay informs, adding that his team will begin the recce soon. “There will be extensive readings with the cast once everyone is locked. We will be spending some time on giving Saif’s character the perfect look.”

Buzz was that the makers have roped in Saif and Amrita Singh’s daughter, Sara Ali Khan, for the film as well. Jay refutes it, saying, “We haven’t cast anyone yet.”
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As he launches his second production house, Saif Ali Khan kicks off nationwide hunt for debutant for his next; daughter Sara Ali Khan was previously rumoured to do the film
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; October 3, 2018)

The industry was abuzz with speculations of Saif Ali Khan and daughter Sara sharing screen space in Filmistaan director Nitin Kakkar's next, after the filmmaker admitted to offering a project to the duo.

While the rumours of collaborating with his daughter were later quashed by Saif, mid-day has now learnt that the family comedy - tentatively titled Jawani Jaaneman - will launch a new face instead. The chosen one will reportedly essay the role of Saif's daughter.

Interestingly, the movie will also mark the star's return to production under his newly launched banner, Black Knight Films. It may be noted that Happy Ending (2014) was the last project to have come out of Saif's previous banner, Illuminati Films.

A source close to the development reveals that the makers are already conducting auditions across metro cities for the female lead. "Since it is an author-backed role, the makers are on the lookout for someone who is talented enough to pull off the part. Casting director Shruti Mahajan has started screening aspirants from across the country. They are keen to zero in on a girl in the next two months so that they can prep her for the big debut, well before the film rolls early next year."

Jay Shewakramani of Northern Light Films, who is co-producing the project with Saif, is currently neck-deep in auditions. He says, "Besides conducting nationwide screen tests, Shruti has reached out to agents in the UK and the US as well."

Shewakramani adds that the "clean, fun family comedy" is right up Saif's alley. "The film revolves around a 40-something man refusing to grow up and act his age. Saif and I have successfully worked together creatively in Race (2008) and Race 2 (2013) [Shewakramani was the creative producer at Tips]. We are close friends and understand each other's creative ideas."
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Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; October 3, 2018)

Nine years ago, Saif Ali Khan had set up his production house, Illuminati Films, with his friend and partner Dinesh Vijan. The duo worked well together and made films such as Love Aaj Kal (2009), Cocktail (2012) and Go Goa Gone (2013). The last movie under the banner was Happy Ending, which released in 2014. Later, Dinesh set up his own production house. Now, we have learnt that Saif, too, has taken a similar route.

Says a source, “Saif had been planning to set up his own banner and start producing films again. He has the business and creative acumen for it and was looking to get an entire team in place before the big announcement.” However, he won’t be reviving Illuminati Films. “His new production house will be called Black Knight Films. The actor-producer will join hands with long-time friend Jay Shewakramani and their first project together is likely to be Filmistaan director, Nitin Kakkar’s next, which is a family comedy,” adds the source.

After Hrs was the first to tell you that Saif and his daughter Sara were in talks to play father-daughter in the same film.

We also told you later that Sara wasn’t a part of the project anymore. An insider, who is also working for the banner, confirms, “There was speculation about Sara working with her father in the film directed by Nitin, but things didn’t work out. Now, the makers will cast a fresh face. Saif and Jay are personally looking into the casting as the actor believes that an author-backed role like this is perfect for a debutante. They have also planned an extensive launch campaign for the new actress whom they will introduce in this movie.”

Jay confirmed the development and said, “I had been working at Tips for more than a decade in the capacity of a creative producer. Having learnt production with Ramesh Taurani, it had prepared me to venture out on my own and be a part of the stories that I would like to tell. That’s how Northern Lights Films was born. I had seen Filmistaan and really liked it. So, when I ventured out from Tips, the first director I approached was Nitin Kakkar. Around that time, I was developing the script of Jawaani Jaaneman (that’s the title of the film); I narrated it to Nitin who loved it and that’s how it all fell in place.”

With a few other commitments left to be completed, Saif’s new production house will start work from March 2019. It seems exciting times lie ahead for the Baazaar actor.