Saif Ali Khan Regrets Devara And Kartavya: ‘I Kept Asking Myself Why Am I Doing This?'

Saif Ali Khan has never shied away from reflecting on his career with complete honesty, and this time, the actor candidly admitted that two of his recent projects left him wishing things had turned out differently. While his performances have consistently earned appreciation, Saif revealed that both Devara and Kartavya failed to become the fulfilling cinematic experiences he had hoped for.

During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, the actor looked back at his recent film choices and explained that he has now reached a point where he wants every project to leave a lasting impact rather than simply adding another title to his filmography.

‘Devara pitch sounded exciting’

Speaking about the kind of films he wants to pursue, Saif said, “I think I am lucky to have done films like Omkara and Kartavya. At least you get cast in some of these projects because people think there’s perhaps more to you.”

He further reflected on how his priorities have evolved over the years.

“I think I need to attract more of those kinds of films, and I want to push myself further at this stage of my career. When I look back, at the last couple of years, you realise that you survive as an actor. Somebody pays you, and that’s great. I did Devara. I thought it would take two months because the role and the pitch sounded exciting, but it ended up taking much longer. Suddenly, you’ve spent almost a year on one film. Yes, you got paid, and maybe it covered one child’s education or took care of other responsibilities, but where is the film that makes it all worthwhile? Every film should count. I keep asking myself, ‘Why am I doing this?’ I am at a stage where I want every next film to matter.”

The actor's comments indicate that commercial commitments alone are no longer enough to satisfy him professionally. Instead, he is now looking for films that challenge him creatively while also leaving a stronger impression on audiences.

Saif wanted Kartavya's ending to be different

Saif also revisited Kartavya, revealing that the film's journey was far from straightforward. He pointed out that the project had actually been completed three years before eventually reaching audiences on Netflix after being backed by Red Chillies Entertainment.

According to the actor, there had even been discussions about changing the climax before the film was locked.

“Kartavya is fortunate that Red Chillies gave it to Netflix because it was actually completed three years ago. Had it released when it was made, it would have felt much fresher. We had also discussed changes to the ending. I remember writing about it because we all felt the villain should have faced consequences and been arrested. If we had pushed a little harder, it might have happened. But for some reason, these things happen and we let it go.”

Saif admitted that, in hindsight, he believes the proposed change could have strengthened the narrative. He explained that many people who watched the film echoed the same sentiment after its release.

“Looking back, everyone saw it, yet nobody insisted that this change was necessary. Almost all the feedback I received from friends and well-wishers was that they liked the film, but they felt the villain should have been brought to justice. Maybe that’s was Pulkit’s point. It is more realistic.”

In Kartavya, Saurabh Dwivedi portrayed the principal antagonist. However, the film concluded without the villain being arrested or facing legal consequences. Instead, the emotional climax centred on Saif Ali Khan's character killing his own father after discovering that he had murdered his other son and daughter-in-law, leaving the primary antagonist untouched.

With his latest remarks, Saif has made it clear that he is becoming increasingly selective about the stories he chooses. While he remains grateful for the opportunities that come his way, the actor appears determined to prioritise meaningful cinema that offers both creative satisfaction and a memorable experience for audiences.