More than a decade after ‘Cocktail’ became a box office hit, Saif Ali Khan has admitted he now views his decision to star in the 2012 romantic comedy as a mistake, calling parts of its script slightly regressive.
Speaking to Gulf News, Saif said he took on the role of Gautam not because he was drawn to the character, but because he was co-producing the film alongside Dinesh Vijan and felt his involvement was necessary to get the project made. He said doing the part was an inevitable mistake, calling it a slightly regressive script choice, while adding that the film itself was otherwise a breezy, fun entertainer. He also noted that he found Deepika Padukone’s character, Veronica, considerably more interesting than his own.
Directed by Homi Adajania and written by Imtiaz Ali, ‘Cocktail’ starred Saif alongside Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty, who made her acting debut with the film. Built around a love triangle between two best friends who are near-opposites and the man caught between them, the film went on to become a commercial success, earning close to Rs 123 crore at the box office. Deepika’s portrayal of Veronica was widely discussed at the time and remains one of the more talked-about aspects of the film, even as its broader treatment of the character has drawn criticism from some quarters over the years.
The film was produced under Saif’s own banner, Illuminati Films, in partnership with Vijan’s Maddock Films. A sequel, ‘Cocktail 2’, starring Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna, with Adajania returning as director, released earlier this year on June 19.