4 min readMumbaiJul 9, 2026 09:28 AM IST As Vishal Bhardwaj’s earthy and unflinching adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Othello, Omkara, completes 20 years later this month, the film continues to be remembered as one of Hindi cinema’s finest literary adaptations. Set in the hinterlands of North India, the film explored themes of caste, power and patriarchy through a stellar ensemble cast. While every performance was widely appreciated, Saif’s portrayal of the ruthless Langda Tyagi remains one of the most celebrated performances of his career. In a recent interview, Saif recalled an unusual request from director Vishal Bhardwaj while filming one of Langda Tyagi’s most memorable scenes. ‘If you direct me naked, I’ll do it’ Saif revealed that Bhardwaj had suggested he perform a scene naked. “I remember one incident from the film. There was a kind of long dialogue in front of this mirror. And I remember Vishal ji saying, ‘Would you mind doing it naked?’ It was a very exciting thing, but I was a bit conscious because there was a huge crowd on …