All posts tagged: Vishal Bhardwaj

Saif Ali Khan reveals why Vishal Bhardwaj refused him for Ajay Devgn’s Omkara role: ‘You’re too handsome’

Saif Ali Khan reveals why Vishal Bhardwaj refused him for Ajay Devgn’s Omkara role: ‘You’re too handsome’

Published by Parlour News

Actor Saif Ali Khan recently shared the story behind landing one of the most memorable roles of his career, and it all began with a conversation he had with his mother, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore. What started as a chat about Shakespeare took an unbelievable turn when filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj called him just moments later. Why Vishal Bhardwaj cast Saif Ali Khan as Langda Tyagi Speaking to IMDb, Saif recalled how the unexpected phone call eventually led him to play Langda Tyagi in Omkara, a performance that is still regarded as one of the finest of his career. A phone call that came at the perfect moment Speaking about the incident, Saif said he was shooting in Jaipur when his mother encouraged him to take up a Shakespearean role. “I was actually in Jaipur, and I was staying in this hotel, shooting for something, I can’t remember what. My mom had just spoken to me, and she said, ‘Yeah, you’re becoming an interesting actor, and I like how you’re developing. You should do Shakespeare.’ I …

Saif Ali Khan recalls losing Ajay Devgn’s Omkara role because he was ‘too handsome’

Saif Ali Khan recalls losing Ajay Devgn’s Omkara role because he was ‘too handsome’

Published by Webster

Saif Ali Khan’s career found a new direction with Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara, and nearly two decades later, the actor has revealed the remarkable coincidence that led him to the critically acclaimed film. As Omkara celebrates 20 years this month, Saif looked back on the moment when a conversation with his mother, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore, was followed almost instantly by a life-changing call from Bhardwaj. Saif Ali Khan on getting cast in Omkara Speaking to IMDb, Saif recalled that he was shooting in Jaipur when Sharmila praised his growth as an actor and encouraged him to explore Shakespeare. “She said, ‘You’re becoming an interesting actor. You should do Shakespeare.’ I replied, ‘That’d be great if I could.’ Then she suggested, ‘You should do Othello or something.’ Moments later, my phone rang. It was Vishal Bhardwaj saying he wanted to make Othello,” Saif shared. Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please …

Saif Ali Khan says he was refused Ajay Devgn’s role in Omkara: ‘You are too handsome’ | Bollywood News

Saif Ali Khan says he was refused Ajay Devgn’s role in Omkara: ‘You are too handsome’ | Bollywood News

Published by Webster

4 min readMumbaiJul 16, 2026 02:29 PM IST Saif Ali Khan’s career took a decisive turn with Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara. An adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Othello, re-imagined against the backdrop of India’s hinterlands, the 2006 film went on to become a landmark not just in the careers of those associated with it, but also in the evolution of Hindi cinema. As Omkara completes 20 years this month, Saif recently looked back on the remarkable chain of events that led him to the film. Speaking to IMDb, the actor recalled what he described as an almost miraculous coincidence. While shooting in Jaipur, he had a conversation with his mother, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore, about his desire to perform Shakespeare on screen. Moments later, he received a call from Vishal Bhardwaj with an offer that seemed too uncanny to be true. ‘You’re too handsome to play Othello’ “I was actually in Jaipur, and I was staying in this hotel, shooting for something, I can’t remember what. My mom had just spoken to me, and she said, “Yeah, …

‘Would you do it naked?’: Saif Ali Khan recalls Vishal Bhardwaj’s request for Omkara scene | Bollywood News

‘Would you do it naked?’: Saif Ali Khan recalls Vishal Bhardwaj’s request for Omkara scene | Bollywood News

Published by Parlour News

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 …

Vishal Bhardwaj among 6 Indians invited to Oscar voting panel by Academy; joins Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, Zach Cregger

Vishal Bhardwaj among 6 Indians invited to Oscar voting panel by Academy; joins Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, Zach Cregger

Published by Parlour News

On Wednesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it has invited 529 people to join the Oscars voting body, a prestigious honour in the cinema world. And while the list is naturally dominated by actors and filmmakers from the United States, it has representation from all over the world, including six names from India as well, including filmmaker and composer Vishal Bhardwaj. Director, screenwriter, producer, music composer and playback singer Vishal Bhardwaj has been invited to join the Academy. (File Photo: AFP) Oscars Academy invites 529 new members The Academy has sent out invites to over 500 people associated with cinema, including One Battle After Another nominee Teyana Taylor, actors Josh O’Connor, Jenna Ortega, Jacob Elordi, and Simu Liu, and filmmakers Josh and Benny Safdie and Weapons director Zach Cregger. Other new members include Anthony Ramos, Bill Skarsgård, Mia Goth, Jon Bernthal, Jemaine Clement, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù and Stephen Fry. If all new members accept their invitations, the film academy will number 11,319, with 10,338 voting members. This almost doubles the number …

Rekha Bhardwaj didn’t want to sing Omkara song Namak Ishq Ka: ‘Was a challenge to sing a raunchy song’

Rekha Bhardwaj didn’t want to sing Omkara song Namak Ishq Ka: ‘Was a challenge to sing a raunchy song’

Published by Parlour News

The song Namak Ishq Ka from the 2006 film Omkara is instrumental in catapulting Rekha Bhardwaj to mainstream fame. The acclaimed singer had been in the industry for years by then and had given several hits, but the success of the song made her a household name. However, Rekha wasn’t sold on the song initially, but her husband and director-composer Vishal Bhardwaj, who had recorded an early rendition by her on his Motorola flip phone, was keen to have the singer on board. Rekha Bhardwaj’s Namak Ishq Ka was picturised on Bipasha Basu. Rekha Bhardwaj on the making of Namak Ishq Ka In an interview with PTI, Rekha Bhardwaj recalled the making of Namak Ishq Ka, part of the soundtrack of Vishal’s Othello adaptation, Omkara. “When Namak Ishq Ka happened, I literally earned it because Vishal was preparing and composing songs. He had very little time, so he would come and sing the songs to me when he composed one or two lines, and would say, ‘Is it sounding good? Should I elaborate on this?’ …

The poet who shaped a filmmaker: Vishal Bhardwaj recalls a lifetime of friendship with Bashir Badr

The poet who shaped a filmmaker: Vishal Bhardwaj recalls a lifetime of friendship with Bashir Badr

Published by Parlour News

New Delhi, Years later, when dementia had erased much of his memory, Bashir Badr would still react to Vishal Bhardwaj’s name, the filmmaker said, recalling the formative bond he shared with the great Urdu poet from the age of 19. The poet who shaped a filmmaker: Vishal Bhardwaj recalls a lifetime of friendship with Bashir Badr Badr was a rising star on the literary scene and Bhardwaj just a student who had fallen in love with the poet’s verses. Such was the impact of Badr’s poetry that he still remembers the first couplet that he heard all those years ago: “Yeh ek ped hai, aa is se mil ke ro le hum, yahan se tere mere raaste badalate hain”. The poet passed away on Thursday at the age of 91, almost a decade after he withdrew from public performances due to the onset of dementia. “Whenever I called his home to check on him, his son Tayeb and Rahat apa would tell me that he still reacts to my name. I remember, we cried so …

‘How Abhishek Bachchan treated Aishwarya Rai was beautiful’: Aarya Babbar recalls Guru romance | Bollywood News

‘How Abhishek Bachchan treated Aishwarya Rai was beautiful’: Aarya Babbar recalls Guru romance | Bollywood News

Published by Webster

4 min readNew DelhiMay 22, 2026 04:43 PM IST Actor Aarya Babbar may have worked with some of Indian cinema’s biggest filmmakers, from Mani Ratnam and Farah Khan to Vishal Bhardwaj, but he didn’t get commercial success. Looking back at his career, Aarya shared why several of his films failed despite collaborating with acclaimed directors. He also opened up about working on Guru and witnessing the early romance between Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Aarya made his acting debut with Ab Ke Baras in 2002 and later appeared in films like Tees Maar Khan, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola and Guru. In a conversation with Vickey Lalwani, Aarya said film failures are not always in an actor’s control. “If a film doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. There is nothing you can do about it. A filmmaker has a vision, and sometimes the audience at that time does not connect with that vision. Sometimes, audiences begin appreciating a film years later. I did Tees Maar Khan with Farah Khan ji. The film did not work …

Vishal Bhardwaj, Shaunak Sen to mentor ₹40 lakh film co-production fund for new filmmakers

Vishal Bhardwaj, Shaunak Sen to mentor ₹40 lakh film co-production fund for new filmmakers

Published by Webster

Acclaimed filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and Shaunak Sen have stepped forward as mentors to empower India’s next generation of independent directors. Vishal Bhardwaj and Shaunak Sen are backing a film co-production fund for a new filmmaker. Humans of Cinema and Safarnaama Pictures have launched a feature film co-production fund of ₹40 lakh, designed to back an emerging filmmaker with a distinct voice and a clear vision. Bhardwaj and Sen have joined the initiative as mentors, and the latter is also attached as an executive producer on one of the films. Bhardwaj, the director of critical hits such as Maqbool, Omkara, Kaminey, and Haider, said he is delighted to lend his support to the budding filmmakers in the country. “Independent cinema survives because some people choose to believe in voices before the world discovers them. I’m happy to support an initiative that hopes to find and nurture the next fearless generation of filmmakers from India,” the filmmaker said in a statement. Shaunak Sen, award-winning filmmaker of All That Breathes, added, “Avenues for independent cinema today are rapidly …

‘Everyone was doubtful’: Saif Ali Khan says Omkara convinced Bollywood folks ‘who otherwise think I can’t do it’

‘Everyone was doubtful’: Saif Ali Khan says Omkara convinced Bollywood folks ‘who otherwise think I can’t do it’

Published by Parlour News

As Saif Ali Khan returns to the heartland with his cop drama Kartavya, many viewers and journalists are reminded of his first tryst with the land – Omkara. In Vishal Bhardwaj‘s seminal Shakespearean adaptation, Saif played gangster Langda Tyagi, widely considered his finest performance. In a new interview, the actor said the performance helped him overcome doubts from within the industry and audiences. Saif Ali Khan as Langda Tyagi in Omkara. Saof Ali Khan recalls Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara Released in July 2006, Omkara is widely regarded as one of Hindi cinema’s finest Shakespearean adaptations, transplanting the tragedy of Othello to the political badlands of Uttar Pradesh. Ajay Devgn played the titular role, while Saif’s Langda Tyagi was based on the Shakespearean villain Iago. The film also starred Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, and Konkona Sen Sharma. Saif credited Vishal Bhardwaj for keeping faith in him to play the role. “Everyone was doubtful, but he was very kind and supportive and helped me with the dialogues. I did a lot of homework. I was on holiday in …