Saif Ali Khan on Sacred Games: India's Narcos, and Netflix's Game-Changer

Saif Ali Khan believes Sacred Games was India’s Narcos in spirit, a bold step toward telling an Indian story on a global platform. Netflix had just finished Narcos, an international sensation, and he recalls thinking, ‘how cool would it be’ if India could tell a homegrown story to the world. He stresses there was no thought of the project being inferior to cinema, insisting the aim was to deliver the best possible quality and that the medium could be as cinematic as a big-screen experience, even on a device. It was a mindset shift: Netflix could bring big-screen storytelling into the intimate space of a streaming screen, making it more exciting than traditional television.

Saif also praises the writing team, Varun Grover and Smita Singh, for staying faithful to Vikram Chandra’s 800-page bestseller without dumbing it down for long-form onscreen. When some suggested toning things down in certain setups, the writers kept the ambition intact, with Saif noting that they were discussing complex ideas—“talking about Vasco de Gama”—and still delivering. He says he felt at home intellectually throughout the process, calling it a no-brainer and a really good feeling.

The conversation isn’t just about the show’s craft; Saif also reflects on a personal moment tied to the era of Sacred Games. He mentions his younger sons, Taimur and Jehangir, discovering his involvement in a historic Indian streaming moment. In a humorous school library moment, Taimur reportedly pulled out a big book and exclaimed, “Look, this is such a big book!” a reminder of how cinema’s reach can touch every corner of life. The veteran actor’s reflections underscore how Sacred Games helped redefine Indian streaming and set a benchmark for future Indian storytelling on global platforms.

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