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For some reason, Saif Ali Khan has been opting for negative roles lately. So, it was quite refreshing to hear that he might return as the lead in the rumoured Race 4. Don’t get us wrong - Chote Nawab is excellent at portraying darker shades, and there are films where his villainous turn is the sole saving grace. But we don’t want him to get typecast, do we? This concern came to mind while watching Devara Part 1, where, once again, he plays the main antagonist in the Jr NTR starter. ‘Devara Part 1’ Movie Review: Jr NTR Is Terrific, Saif Ali Khan Is Decent and Janhvi Kapoor Is Gratuitous in Koratala Siva’s Overstretched Actioner.
Was Saif Ali Khan good as the villain in Devara? He was as solid as expected, and (SPOILERS AHEAD) his character, Bhaira, survives the first film, meaning we’ll see him in Devara Part 2. However, Devara's Bhaira isn’t one of Saif’s best negative roles - in fact, it’s one of his weaker performances in a grey-shaded character, though certainly not his weakest.
So, what is Saif Ali Khan’s best negative role to date? In this feature, we rank his villainous portrayals from worst to best.
Kurbaan
Kurbaan is best known for pairing real-life couple Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, featuring steamy scenes between the two. The film is a terrorism drama, where Saif plays a terrorist who marries a college professor (Kapoor) to gain entry into the USA. While Saif delivers a good performance, the reason this ranks low is because it’s not a fully negative role - his character has a change of heart due to love.
Rangoon
In Vishal Bhardwaj’s WWII tragic love triangle, Saif stars alongside Kangana Ranaut and Shahid Kapoor. He plays a smarmy film producer who serves the British and is engaged to his leading lady (Ranaut). While Saif is effective, his limited screen time curbs his impact, and he is overshadowed by his co-stars, who had more screen time and better-written characters. Kangana Ranaut at Box Office: From Rangoon to Judgementall Hai Kya, Why Her Controversies Are Doing Little to Save Her Films!
Devara Part 1
Saif’s latest outing is a treat for Jr NTR fans, but not so much for the other actors. Janhvi Kapoor’s role is more of a glorified cameo, disappearing after the "Chuttamalle" song. Saif fares better as Bhaira, a devious rebel who leads his own army of sea smugglers. While he looks the part, his role is mostly reduced to making menacing faces and growling at the camera—an issue of weak writing. Hopefully, this will be rectified in the sequel. ‘Devara Part 1’ Ending Explained: Major Twists, Unanswered Questions, and What To Expect in Sequel of Jr NTR, Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor’s Movie.
Adipurush
Om Raut’s reimagining of the Ramayana is amateurish, and many had issues with how Ravana (renamed Lankesh) was depicted. Despite the film’s flaws, Saif chews up the scenery with an over-the-top performance, easily overshadowing everyone else, including Prabhas, who looks uninterested. The gothic-inspired "Shivoham" sequence featuring Saif’s Lankesh is the film’s best scene. Adipurush: From Prabhas' 'Avengers' Moment to Saif Ali Khan's Raavan Getting Massaged By Snakes, 15 WTF Moments From Om Raut's Film That We Can't Just Get Over!
Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior
In this historical drama, Ajay Devgn plays the titular brave Maratha general, while Saif portrays Udaybhan Singh Rathod, the Rajput antagonist serving under Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Despite Ajay winning a National Award, Saif steals the show with his sociopathic villain, even though the writing around his character is problematic. Tanhaji Movie Review: Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan Own a Few Mass Moments in This Saffronised Masala Entertainer Packaged as a History Lesson.
Baazaar
An underrated film and performance in Saif’s career, Baazaar is loosely inspired by Oliver Stone’s Wall Street. Saif plays a manipulative stock trader, a character inspired by Gordon Gekko, using his charm and cunning to engage in fraudulent activities. Saif’s suave, smarmy performance makes this film worth watching.
Tandav
Perhaps the most controversial entry on this list, Tandav is Saif’s second web series after Sacred Games. A political drama directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, it takes a scathing look at the country’s political state. Saif plays a PM aspirant who manipulates events to seize power. Despite being the most unlikeable in a show filled with grey characters, Saif camouflages his character’s wickedness with charm, delivering a fantastic performance. Unfortunately, we’ll never get to see him in the next season because that is never going to be made.
Ek Hasina Thi
Saif is diabolical as a scheming conman in Sriram Raghavan’s underrated revenge thriller. His character seduces his neighbour (played brilliantly by Urmila Matondkar) and gets her jailed on false charges. She returns, hardened by her prison experience, and plots an ingenious scheme to exact her revenge, trapping him in a fate reserved for one’s worst enemies.
Omkara
Saif’s most popular negative role is also one of his best, though it ranks just below my personal favourite. In Vishal Bhardwaj’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello, Saif plays Langda Tyagi, the film’s version of Iago - a jealous manipulator who destroys the lives of the main characters, including his own. Saif’s transformation, from his lopsided grin to his uncouth appearance, makes him the film’s MVP, even with heavyweights like Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Naseeruddin Shah.
Being Cyrus
In Homi Adajania’s underrated psychological black comedy, Saif plays Cyrus, both a killer and a victim. He is manipulated by his elder sibling into destroying a dysfunctional Parsi family through murder and subterfuge. Saif underplays the role, making his character’s actions shocking, including the murder of an old man. Yet, he retains some sympathy due to his past trauma. Incidentally, Being Cyrus and Omkara were both released the same year, making it quite the double bonanza.
(The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2024 09:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
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