Saif Ali Khan always wanted to play a gangster

Actor says he is glad to be part of Bullet Raja.

MUMBAI: Bollywood’s resident nawab Saif Ali Khan, who plays a gangster named Raja Mishra in the forthcoming film Bullett Raja, says he always wanted to play such a character. “After many years, I got the chance to play a character which is very different from me. I always wanted to play a gangster,” the 43 year old said at a promotional event of the film.

Saif says the Tigmanshu Dhulia directorial, premised on a fictional mafia gang based in Uttar Pradesh, is neither vulgar nor violent, but is completely entertaining. “Tishu ji (Tigmanshu) has tried to make each scene an item. There is action in the film but no violence; there is comedy but no vulgarity. So it is a good action drama set against the background of Uttar Pradesh. I’m very glad I could be part of it,” he said.

Producer Rahul Mittra and the crew made arrangements for an action sequence in the film that has Saif’s character chasing down another character on the main road. Reportedly, Saif was so excited about the sequence that he decided to do it himself. The scene features bold and daring action sequences, which involved hopping atop cars to a fast chase in heavy traffic.

Onlookers whistled and claped for the stunts that Saif pulled off in front of a rapt audience of 10,000 people. Saif’s daring actions whipped the crowd into a frenzied effort to get a hold of him, requiring nearly 500 security guards and cops to manage them. Eventually, Saif had to stop the shoot to request the crowd to calm down.

Set in Lucknow, Bullett Raja also stars Jimmy Shergill and Sonakshi Sinha. It is slated to hit theatres on November 29.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2013.

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