Saif Ali Khan Says Omkara Changed Industry Perception About Him, “I’ll Always Be Thankful”

As Saif Ali Khan prepares to return to a rooted and rugged setting with his upcoming cop drama Kartavya, the actor has reflected on one of the most defining performances of his career, Langda Tyagi in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara. Nearly two decades after the film’s release, Saif says the role changed the way filmmakers and audiences looked at him as an actor.

Saif Ali Khan Says Omkara Changed Industry Perception About Him

Released in 2006, Omkara remains one of Hindi cinema’s most acclaimed Shakespeare adaptations. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film reimagined Othello against the political backdrop of Uttar Pradesh. Ajay Devgn played the titular role, while Saif Ali Khan portrayed Langda Tyagi, a character inspired by Shakespeare’s Iago. The film also featured Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vivek Oberoi, and Konkona Sen Sharma in key roles.

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In a recent conversation with PTI, Saif recalled how people initially doubted whether he could pull off the intense and rustic role. However, he credited Vishal Bhardwaj for trusting him and helping him prepare for the challenging character. “Everyone was doubtful, but he was very kind and supportive and helped me with the dialogues. I did a lot of homework. I was on holiday in the Maldives, people were like, ‘Why don’t you rehearse in the heartland?’ I was reading this script under an umbrella in the Maldives, learning all these lines, and kept practising. Then I came back,” Saif said.

The actor’s performance eventually earned widespread acclaim and won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. “The film has done so much for me, and I’ll always be thankful. It has expressed a certain range to a bunch of filmmakers, who would otherwise think that I can’t do it. They’ve said, ‘Okay, if he’s done that, then he can do this,” he shared.

Saif Ali Khan: “I Like Playing Grounded Roles”

Saif also spoke about his preference for grounded characters that differ from his real-life personality. “I like playing roles like this (in Kartavya), which is not like Omkara, but it’s a little grounded, rooted, and very different from my personality. But that’s the whole point of acting. So, it’s nice if you can be free enough to have your own accent and your own body language and not try and convince people that actually you can be different,” he added.

About Kartavya

Directed by Pulkit, known for Bhakshak, Kartavya is produced by Gauri Khan under the banner of Red Chillies Entertainment. The film also stars Sanjay Mishra, Saurabh Dwivedi, Zakir Hussain, Manish Chaudhari, and Rasika Dugal. The film is set to premiere on Netflix on May 15.

Saif Ali Khan’s reflection on Omkara highlights how a single performance can redefine an actor’s journey. Even after all these years, Langda Tyagi continues to remain one of the most celebrated characters in his career, while Kartavya now promises another grounded role that could once again showcase a different side of the actor.

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Also Read: DYK, Saif Ali Khan Was Once Told ‘Don’t Play A Copy Ever’? Here’s Who Said It And Why

Varsha Tiwari

Varsha Tiwari is a budding content writer passionate about Bollywood, pop culture, and the stories behind the spotlight. She enjoys breaking down trends, celebrity moments, and film narratives into engaging, reader-friendly content. Always curious and observant, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Communication and Journalism. Outside of writing, she enjoys painting because storytelling doesn’t always need words to make an impact.