Saif Ali Khan says portrayal of ‘heroism’ in cinema has changed: ‘Flaws make characters more powerful’

Saif Ali Khan has not had a great 2025 so far. His year started with an attack in his Mumbai home as part of an attempted robbery, which led to his hospitalisation. This was followed by the release of his poorly critiqued Netflix film Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins. Though it has been a while since Khan has stepped into a decent “hero” role (prior to this, playing the antagonist in his Telugu debut Devara: Part 1), the actor does acknowledge that the age-old portrayal of protagonists has changed dramatically.

In a recent conversation with Hindustan Times, the 54-year-old delved into the changing definition of heroism in cinema. “While it (the idea of heroism) may not have changed completely, it has certainly broadened in the way that you find heroic things in even things that flawed people do and that’s more interesting,” he said. “I’m happy it’s happening because it’s a sign of evolution of character and audience.”

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The Omkara actor believes that the modern audience relates more to an imperfect hero and not an idealised one. “None of us are perfect in our lives, we all have good moments and bad moments, and if you can capture those things, it makes it so much more powerful than having a one-note kind of character who’s like this godlike angel who never does anything wrong, which is how it’s been in the West and with us, but now it’s changing.”

Khan also reflected how minute flaws in a subject can create a more “human” character. “It hits you so much harder if a hero does something that is not his finest moment, like if he snaps at his son, or does something which is ‘so human’, you don’t get to see it so often (on screen). It kind of moves us on a different level. And, it’s great that it’s happening.”

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While there are no immediate releases for the '90s heartthrob, rumours are rife that a sequel to his 2013 zombie flick Go Goa Gone may go into production. Khan will also star in the Hindi remake of the Malayalam film Oppam, helmed by Priyadarshan.

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