Saif, how did you thinking of stepping into a web series?
It's another platform. It's great if you can do movies which can be watched with family.
But the world is changing.
People are consuming content on mobiles, laptops. And how many people are going to theatres? If you do the Math on a Rs 100 cr film and take into account the fact that only 2 per cent of our population watches films in theatres, you will see that the actual number of people who see a film are very less.
But on the other hand, virtually everyone has an Internet connection on his phone. Also, becoming a member of Netflix is just 8 dollars to see its entire content. And mind you, it's a premium platform, not downmarket. Production values are high and classy.
I would be happy if I could do one web series a year.
I remember talking to you sometime ago when you said that you are not an Internet person...
We have grown up in different times in a different world, we never put pictures, never showed off. Yes, it's a different culture for me. Either I will get my head around it, or I won't.
Saif Ali Khan Still From Sacred Games
Radhika, your opinion?
I unwind with Internet content after reaching home, or sometimes read a book. So yeah, like Saif, I also think that online stuff has become an integral part of our lives.
Saif, did you immediately say yes?
I was quite excited when I heard the story. I play a tough Sardar cop. I had to learn a bit of Punjabi for that, though. The character is a bit flawed. In his very first scene, he is contemplating suicide.
He is totally on his own, he is the only honest guy in a corrupt system. He is even low in his personal life, he is divorced.
At a certain point, he gets a chance to turn it around. Mind you, he is a smart guy.
Radhika, did you agree soon?
Yeah. I play a RAW agent, Anjali Mathur, who is extremely brave and focused.
Along the way, I got to learn a lot about RAW agents. It was fascinating.
Radhika, you did Lust Stories. Kiara Advani's self-gratification scene from that series is making news. Even Swara Bhasker did a similar scene in Verre Di Wedding. What's your take on that?
I prefer not to have censorship; we are not taking unnecessary liberties for the heck of it. It's so liberating to feel that those days are gone when one said: You can't do this, you don't do this. Today, we are representing society at various levels by the Internet content; if we had do's and don'ts, it would have become difficult for the actors to function. And, honestly I think it is more liberated than I thought--- and I am glad.
Saif, the interview will be incomplete without talking about Taimur...
Well, it is very sweet on one level; it makes people happy, he is a cute kid.
Do you enjoy the cameras coming close?
Well, there are concerns. I want him to have a normal childhood. I am a very private person and have never enjoyed cameras coming too close, it's intrusion. But so far, the relationship between the media and us has been decent.
Your mother (Sharmila Tagore) vehemently said that she doesn't like it...
Yeah, but what to do? If you give this too much importance, it will become an issue. My son will grow up well and I guess, we need to take it in our stride.
Your last few films haven't done well...
I don't know why. You do the best for every film, but I guess every one has its own destiny.
People missed you in Race 3. They came out and said that in cameras...
I haven't seen it but I am sure Ramesh Taurani (producer of Race 3) is happy with the money he has made.