Saif Ali Khan says there was a time when music acted as a catalyst in making a film successful, but the actor is unsure if the formula still works.
The 47-year-old actor, who had musical hits in films such as Hum Tum, Salaam Namaste and Cocktail, said that Bollywood’s current experimental phase has diluted the significance of the song-and-dance routine.
“The films would even get a big opening if the songs were a hit. As we have grown or changed, there is less and less songs. I don’t know if it is a good thing [or not].
“In the outskirts of India and rural areas, and in cabs, people listen to Hindi music a lot. I think part of the hero’s charm is to sing songs. I don’t know if we have lost that culture [or not],” Khan said.
The actor was speaking at the launch of the song, Swagpur Ka Chaudhary, from his upcoming film Kaalakaandi.
“It is a great song. When we do a film, we need music to promote it and make it more interesting,” he added.
This year, Khan was seen in two films — Rangoon and Chef. The movies, however, did not do as well as expected at the box office.
Talking about 2017, the actor said, “It wasn’t particularly great professionally. But it was a very interesting experience. I learnt a lot about acting and worked with lot of wonderful people who taught me new things.
“I am a changed actor to what I was when I was doing Phantom. I have managed to keep abreast and move with the current style and it is the greatest thing I could have achieved,” he said.
Khan added his agenda for 2018 is to keep moving ahead and that he hopes Kaalakaandi impresses the audiences.
Directed by Akshat Verma, the movie releases in India on January 12, 2018.
