Saif Ali Khan was unsure about doing ‘Ek Hasina Thi’, says Sriram Raghavan

Director recalls casting discussions

Director Sriram Raghavan recently revealed that actor Saif Ali Khan was initially uncertain about accepting the role in the 2004 thriller Ek Hasina Thi. According to Raghavan, the actor had concerns about playing a morally complex and negative character at a time when such roles were less common for mainstream Bollywood stars.

A bold role for the actor

In Ek Hasina Thi, Saif Ali Khan played a manipulative and deceptive character opposite Urmila Matondkar. The film told the story of a woman who is betrayed by her lover and later seeks revenge. Saif’s character was central to the story and required him to portray darker shades rarely seen in his earlier roles.

Raghavan said that Saif initially had doubts about how audiences might react to him playing such a negative role, but he eventually agreed after discussions about the script and the character’s importance to the story.

The film’s impact

Released in 2004, Ek Hasina Thi received critical acclaim for its gripping narrative and performances. The film also helped establish Sriram Raghavan as a director known for stylish thrillers and intense storytelling.

Saif Ali Khan’s performance was widely appreciated and marked an important step in his career, showing his willingness to experiment with unconventional roles.

A turning point in Bollywood thrillers

Over the years, Ek Hasina Thi has gained a cult following among fans of suspense and thriller films. Many critics consider it one of the early examples of modern Hindi neo-noir storytelling.

Raghavan later went on to direct several successful thrillers, building a reputation for creating complex characters and unpredictable plots in Bollywood cinema.