Director Sriram Raghavan has opened up about why Saif Ali Khan was initially unsure about taking on his role in the 2004 thriller Ek Hasina Thi. Released as Raghavan’s directorial debut and produced by Ram Gopal Varma, the film starred Saif alongside Urmila Matondkar and has since become a cult favourite for its dark storytelling and gripping performances.
At a Masterclass session during the Red Lorry Film Festival, Raghavan explained that Saif’s hesitation stemmed from his career trajectory at the time. “For Urmila, it was a role she was comfortable with, but Saif was unsure because he had just done Dil Chahta Hai and was starting to figure out what people liked. He hadn’t had many hits for a while. Ek Hasina Thi was his 44th film, and he wasn’t sure if it was the right choice. But we got along well, liked the same movies and books, so he trusted me,” Raghavan said.
Raghavan also reflected on the guidance he received from producer Ram Gopal Varma after completing the film’s final cut. Varma advised him, “You’ve made a good film. Don’t try to repeat it. Decide if you want to enjoy the film’s success or focus on your next project.” The filmmaker credits that advice with helping him shape his career in stylish thrillers such as Johnny Gaddaar (2007), Badlapur (2015), and Andhadhun (2018).
In addition, Raghavan revealed that he had once considered adapting Ira Levin’s novel A Kiss Before Dying but eventually abandoned the idea after discovering that it had already inspired the Hindi film Baazigar starring Shah Rukh Khan.
Raghavan’s latest film, Ikkis, a war drama based on the life of Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetarpal, stars Agastya Nanda and has been praised for its peace-focused narrative, although it saw limited turnout in theatres.