Saif Ali Khan loves literature, praising Nilanjana Roy’s ‘Black River’—a poignant murder mystery about a girl’s death that he bought film rights for. He adores Lafcadio Hearn’s poetic Japanese ghost stories and Natalie Haynes’ feminist Pandora’s Jar retelling Medusa’s tragedy. In the adaptation, he plays cop Ombir Singh. Saif Ali Khan often freely expresses his deep affection for literature. In a recent interview, he provided uncommon views on the books that have profoundly shaped him, narratives full of poetry, intense emotions, and insightful takes on society and history.
‘Black River’: A top favorite
The actor, chatting with Esquire India about a novel that hit him hard, shared that Nilanjana Roy’s ‘Black River’ ranks among his top favorite reads. He called it much more than your typical crime story, noting, “It’s kind of a police procedural murder mystery, but it’s also really emotional and kind of moving about the murder of a very young little girl.” Saif mentioned the tale struck such a deep chord that he ended up buying its rights.
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Acquiring the rights
Saif explained that his passion for the tale led him to purchase its film rights, saying, “I love the story so much that I bought the rights to the book and we’re trying to make a movie out of it,” though he admitted the project is moving slowly. He praised the book as “lyrical,” “dramatic,” and “really poetic, beautiful,” highlighting how its heartfelt depth surpasses the thriller elements. He echoed its summary by adding, “It’s kind of like an ode to an India that might not exist anymore… quite an emotional piece as well.”
Passion for ghost stories
He expressed his passion for ghost tales steeped in literary mastery, naming Japanese Ghost Stories by Lafcadio Hearn as a standout favorite. He admired the writer’s odyssey, stating, “I love very well-written ghost stories,” and traced Hearn’s shift from Ireland to Japan, where he fully absorbed local traditions. “He would retell famous Japanese ghost stories, but in this amazing, amazing poetic prose,” Saif remarked, ranking the book among his best-loved reads. Beyond the chills, he cherishes the profound sentiments and exquisite prose that elevate these narratives.
Pandora’s jar impact
Saif named Pandora’s Jar by Natalie Haynes as another title that profoundly moved him, delivering a feminist spin on female figures in Greek mythology. He characterized it as “a kind of feminist take on all the famous women in Greek myth and history,” focusing on icons like Medusa, traditionally vilified from a patriarchal viewpoint. Delving into Medusa’s story, he explained, “She was a beautiful girl, and she was raped in this temple. And then she was punished for being raped in the temple… And she’s viewed as a monster.” This reimagined view of ancient tales resonated deeply with him, prompting his reflection, “I’ve always felt something for her.”
‘Black River’ plot summary
‘Black River’ tells the story of an 8-year-old girl’s murder in a village near Delhi and the police probe that follows. It covers topics like people taking law into their own hands, bias against religions, tough lives of migrants, and corruption. In the film, Saif plays Ombir Singh, the strong officer solving the case, and he works closely with director Hansal Mehta to keep the book’s main idea alive while making it hit home for viewers.