- Saif Ali Khan said Agent Vinod opened well but lacked tight execution and focus
- Lalit Parimoo claimed star interference by Saif and Kareena disrupted the director's vision
- Sriram Raghavan reportedly acknowledged interference but did not elaborate to Parimoo
Days after Agent Vinod actor Lalit Parimoo revealed that the film failed due to the 'interference' of lead actors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan, the latter has shared his views on why the movie might not have worked.
What's Happening
- Saif Ali Khan told Variety India, "I think of Agent Vinod as a film that might have been vain. But also that film opened really well, you know. It's just that it did not sustain because it probably wasn't a tightly made film, or it went off track in many ways. Or, as Sriram himself said, he put too many toppings on the pizza."
- He added, "But the idea wasn't bad, and the title wasn't bad, and it was the right film to make. Imagine a kind of spy movie ahead of its time, perhaps. It was a cool film, but it should have held more. Maybe we made some mistakes. My point is: it was vanity. I was excited to do that. I made the film for myself, but it did open well. So its failure was not because it was a vain idea."
What Lalit Parimoo Said About Agent Vinod
In conversation with Siddharth Kannan on his podcast, Lalit Parimoo said, "I think the main reason was that there was too much interference from the stars - Saif and Kareena. The way Sriram wanted to make that film, he couldn't make it that way."
He continued, "He was constantly being told what he should do, so it became a mess. The writing and the direction team... they didn't get to present what they wanted. That was the flaw of the film."
"Film is a director's medium, so if the director has a vision, people should just follow that. And if the director has cast any actor, they should only take the actor's suggestions if they are valid. If the actor is suggesting something because they are a star, then it means nothing. These kinds of adjustments ruin the film," added Lalit Parimoo.
On What Sriram Raghavan Said About Saif-Kareena's "Interference"
Sriram Raghavan and Lalit Parimoo had a good rapport and had known each other since the latter's television days.
When asked if Sriram Raghavan spoke about the 'ordeal' with him, Lalit Parimoo said the filmmaker did not go into detail and didn't share much.
"He was talking about the interference; he did mention it," concluded Lalit Parimoo.
About Agent Vinod
Directed by Sriram Raghavan, Agent Vinod, an action-spy film, had Saif playing the role of a RAW agent and Kareena as a spy.
The film made on a budget of approximately Rs 60 crore, had been shot in Russia and Switzerland, while in India it had been filmed in Ladakh, Mumbai, Jaisalmer and Delhi. It took almost two years for Saif to complete the film.
Produced under Saif's banner Illuminati Films, it also stars Kareena Kapoor, Gulshan Grover, Prem Chopra, Ram Kapoor and Ravi Kishan.
