Tandav could be Saif Ali Khan next trouble spot. Amazon’s new web series that goes live in mid-January has him playing a wily North Indian politician. It is based on a real-life politician, a very controversial one at that. But we are not revealing a name. There is enough trouble for Saif every time his movie opens, or he opens his mouth.
2020’s only large-screen blockbuster Tanhaji became very controversial after Saif spoke about the manipulation of history. Now even before it has started shooting Saif’s Adipurush where he plays Ravana is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Saif's statement on humanising Raavan and bringing out his point of view as to why he abducted Sita drew flak, so much so that a case has been filed against the actor in Uttar Pradesh. Adipurush also stars Prabhas as Ram and Kriti Sanon as Sita.
Coming back to his latest outing, in his web series Tandav he plays a character with shades of grey. In an interview to me, Saif said he enjoys playing dark characters as they give him a chance to be more morally flexible. Tandav is the story of a morally compromised politician who wants to become the prime minister of the country by hook or crook. Going by the teaser it looks like an interesting slickly-packaged political thriller with a powerful supporting cast including Dimple Kapadia who apparently plays the manipulative brain behind the political throne.
At a time when many A-list stars in Bollywood have decided to stay away from political themes—why? Because it always causes controversy and trouble—Saif is back at the forefront of a volatile modern-day Game of Thrones. No wonder I consider him the most daring Khan in Bollywood after Irrfan.
Image source: Instagram/primevideoin/houseofpataudi
Image source: Instagram/primevideoin/houseofpataudi