From Kalakaandi To Being Cyrus, Saif Ali Khan’s Underrated Masterpieces That Were Ahead Of It’s Time

Saif Ali Khan’s journey in Indian Cinema has been unconventional since the beginning. In an industry where success is measured by box office numbers and commercial reach, Saif Ali Khan’s game has been beyond mere numericals. He has constantly churned out films and web shows that have defied expectations of conventionality. While it is known that Bollywood has taken its own sweet time in recognising genre-bending narratives, Saif has done his bit to craft projects that would later be celebrated as cult classics.

Times When Saif Ali Khan Films Were Ahead Of Their Time

Although Saif Ali Khan has explored himself in mainstream biggies, he has also tapped into experimental, bold, and downright rebellious films to challenge the traditional norms of storytelling and put an end to content redundancy. Be it delving into Indie cinema before it became glossy, foraying into psychological noir when thrillers were visually nonexistent, or experimenting with dark comedy when Bollywood was glued to creating typical masala films, Saif Ali Khan led the charge to take risks with novelty. And while these films may not have made it big at the box office, they have undoubtedly earned critical acclaim and the audience’s attention, proving that the Nawab has stayed one step ahead of the curve.

Being Cyrus

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For starters, ‘Being Cyrus’ is a film that arrived at a time when the whole thought of Indian indie thriller was hardly known or explored on the screens. The film was detached from Bollywood’s flashy production. It opted for an eerie and slow-burning intensity standing at par with Western cinema. At a time when Bollywood is constantly churning out films on similar themes, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that ‘Being Cyrus’ paved the way for Indian indie experiments.

Ek Hasina Thi

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Beyond that, ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ was probably the first to dive deep into psychological noir in mainstream Indian cinema. Being opposite of Bollywood’s melodrama, the film brought a twisted tale of love and betrayal. Now that Bollywood is creating films like ‘Badlapur’ and ‘Andhadhun’, it’s crucial to recognise that ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ set the tone with Saif in the lead. Apart from these, his most dedicated exploration came with ‘Laal Kaptaan’ – a Western-meets-folklore revenge saga, that didn’t fall prey to attract commercials, but looked after redefining the dynamics of an Indian period drama.

Kalakaandi

Then comes ‘Kalakaandi’, a film that smoothly ditched the traditional Bollywood storytelling, and instead experimented with dark comedy. The film chose the path of a trippy, hilarious, and non-linear narrative wherein Saif Ali Khan portrayed the journey of a man on a psychedelic drug route that was both bizarre and brilliant, highlighting that he was happily willing to choose a path that most mainstream actors wouldn’t have. As the popularity of such narratives soar, it is crystal clear that Saif Ali Khan’s ‘Kalakaandi’ was way ahead of its time.

Ever since Saif Ali Khan embraced unconventionally, he has been setting trends long before Bollywood realised. Throughout his flourished filmography, his choices shed light on creative curiosity, and willingness to shatter glass ceilings and chase innovation rather than confined norms of storytelling. In the evolving landscape of Indian storytelling where audiences are demanding fresh narratives, the risks that Saif Ali Khan took years ago are now being revisited.

On The Work Front

Currently, Saif is gearing up for a thriller with ‘Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins’. The teaser and glimpses of Saif’s looks have garnered significant attention from his fans, who are waiting with bated breath to watch his gripping exploration and adrenaline-fueled outing in the Netflix film. Considering the hype surrounding the film, audiences are eager to see what Saif has in store with the thriller. Directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal, ‘Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins’ is scheduled to stream on Netflix from April 25, 2025.

For those who’ve watched Saif Ali Khan’s career growth closely, it’s certain that he has always been hungry to explore the realm of Indian cinema, only to stay ahead of its time.

Also Read: Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins: Saif Ali Khan Looks Sharp And Intriguing In New Poster, Generates Curiosity