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Priyadarshan's Near Miss: Saif Ali Khan Almost Starred in Garam Masala
31 Aug
Summary
- Saif Ali Khan was considered for 'Garam Masala' but a script delay led to his exit.
- The director's first meeting with Saif was inspired by his admiration for Tiger Pataudi.
- Priyadarshan and Saif Ali Khan collaborated years later on 'Haiwaan'.
Filmmaker Priyadarshan recently shared an anecdote about Saif Ali Khan nearly being cast in the popular comedy 'Garam Masala'. Priyadarshan had intended to narrate the story to Saif, but the complete screenplay was not ready at the time. Writer Neeraj Vora was still developing the script, causing Saif to wait for three days before giving his dates to another project. Consequently, the film eventually featured Akshay Kumar in a lead role.
Priyadarshan's first encounter with Saif Ali Khan was notably influenced by his deep admiration for Saif's father, the legendary cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, also known as Tiger Pataudi. The director recounted his youthful experiences following Pataudi's career, including an attempt to meet him at a Ranji Trophy match that resulted in an injury. This shared connection over Tiger Pataudi became a frequent topic when Priyadarshan and Saif Ali Khan finally worked together on the film 'Haiwaan'.
The film 'Haiwaan' also marks a reunion for Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar, who previously appeared together in 'Tashan' 18 years prior. In 'Haiwaan', Saif Ali Khan plays a visually impaired protagonist. The movie, scheduled for a theatrical release on September 11, is a remake of the Mohanlal-starrer 'Oppam'.
