'There was too much interference from Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor': 'Agent Vinod' actor Lalit Parimoo on Sriram Raghavan film's debacle

Lalit Parimoo, who acted in the 2012 movie ‘Agent Vinod', directed by Sriram Raghavan, has made some significant claims about his co-stars, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan. He said the two lead actors kept interfering during the film's making, which he believes is the main reason the movie did not do well at the box office.During his appearance on Siddharth Kannan’s podcast, Lalit 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 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”.Interestingly, Lalit shared a close bond with director Sriram Raghavan, a friendship that goes all the way back to Parimoo's days in television. When asked whether the director ever opened up to him about the difficulties he faced while making the film, Parimoo revealed that Sriram did not discuss things in depth or go into specifics. "He was talking about the interference; he did mention it," said Parimoo.‘Agent Vinod’, helmed by Sriram Raghavan, is an action-packed spy thriller in which Saif portrays a RAW agent and Kareena Kapoor plays the role of a spy. The film was made with a budget of around Rs 60 crore and was shot across some stunning international locations, including Russia and Switzerland. Back home in India, the team filmed in scenic spots like Ladakh, Jaisalmer, Mumbai, and Delhi. The project was lengthy, with reports suggesting that Saif took nearly two years to wrap it up. Bankrolled by Saif's own production house, Illuminati Films, the movie also featured a strong supporting cast that included Gulshan Grover, Prem Chopra, Ram Kapoor, and Ravi Kishan.