There was a time when Saif Ali Khan was not only choosing different kinds of films as an actor but was also building his own production company in Bollywood. His banner Illuminati Films backed several movies that later became popular among audiences. However, despite the success, Saif eventually decided to step away from film production.
In an interview with SCREEN, Saif spoke about why he shut down Illuminati Films, which he started in 2009. The actor admitted that producing films became difficult and emotionally tiring over time. “I think it can be an extremely thankless job,” Saif said while talking about his experience as a producer.
Illuminati Films began its journey with Love Aaj Kal, directed by Imtiaz Ali. The film became a major success and was followed by projects such as Agent Vinod, Cocktail, Go Goa Gone and Happy Ending. Many of these films later developed a strong fan following.
Saif said he enjoyed the creative side of production, especially discussions related to the film’s look, sound and overall presentation. However, he also explained that handling production came with many challenges. “But it’s very creative. I like the idea of having an idea and discussing some creatives like the sound and look of things. I did enjoy producing, but it can also be a massive pain,” he shared.
The actor also credited producer Dinesh Vijan and Eros International for the success of Illuminati Films. Saif and Dinesh worked together for several years before parting ways professionally in 2014. Speaking about their collaboration, Saif said, “Things move, people move. You see it all over the place. Dinesh has gone on to become a wonderful producer, and that’s great. We had our time, and I did extremely well out of it, and it had a lot to do with what Eros was doing at the time. It was a wonderful opportunity. But some things are meant to last however long they do.”
After leaving Illuminati Films, Dinesh Vijan built Maddock Films into one of the leading production houses in Hindi cinema with films like Badlapur, Hindi Medium, Mimi, Chhaava, Stree, Bhediya and Munjya.
Saif also praised Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment while talking about his Netflix film Kartavya. Speaking about Shah Rukh as a producer, he said, “Actually, as a producer, he hasn’t made his presence felt in the film.”