Saif Ali Khan & Rasika Dugal on Kartavya: Stories with Intent
Saif Ali Khan & Rasika Dugal on Kartavya: Stories with Intent
Saif, Rasika and Manish share thoughts on crime-thrillers, dialect work, Amitabh Bachchan's advice, and what Kartavya aims to say in today's streaming era.
Saif Ali Khan arrives for our chat wearing an all-black ensemble on a sunny Mumbai afternoon, flanked by Rasika Dugal and Manish Chaudhari at the Netflix office. The trio are gathered ahead of Kartavya, with Saif stepping into the shoes of a cop and continuing Netflix's India journey that began with Sacred Games. The group jokes and chat comes easy, but the mood stays focused on craft and the kind of stories they hope to tell through the upcoming crime-thriller.
Saif looks back at Sacred Games and explains how the platform's international appeal drew him in. He recalls Netflix's early foray into a mafia show in a local language and how its treatment stood out—Bombay’s backstreets, sewers and chaos painted with a distinctive grit. He even recalls a scene about a paper tucked away in a cabinet among three thousand files, a moment that stuck with him as a turning point in his approach to gritty storytelling.
Rasika Dugal chimes in about her love for red herrings, noting how misdirection can keep viewers guessing right up to the final reveal. Manish Chaudhari adds his own affinity for clever shifts in trail and surprise turns, underscoring how a well-timed misdirection can elevate a crime drama. The three discuss the broader appeal of crime-thriller tropes and how they want to flip expectations while staying true to the emotional core of the characters.
On the current streaming landscape, the trio emphasizes telling stories with intent—careful dialect work, nuanced performances, and a commitment to grounded, authentic worlds. Saif shares that he’s drawn to scenes where detectives discuss personal moments beside the crime-scene details, a balance he’d love to explore again. He also mentions the advice he received from Amitabh Bachchan, framing it as a guiding beacon for how actors shape dialogue and rhythm in high-stakes performances. Their chat touches on how Kartavya aims for sharper character work and a heartland sensibility that resonates beyond language and borders.
All three tease Kartavya as a punchy, character-driven crime drama that aligns with Netflix’s ongoing India expansion and a growing appetite for stories that feel intimate yet expansive. The atmosphere is collaborative, the conversation is candid, and if Kartavya delivers on its promises, it could become a standout bridge between local grit and global storytelling.
