May 10, 2026 4:43pm IST
‘Kartavya’ Director Pulkit on Saif Ali Khan, Shah Rukh Khan’s Support and Why he Prefers Streaming over Theatrical (EXCLUSIVE)
Eight years after making his streaming debut as a policeman on Netflix India’s “Sacred Games,” Saif Ali Khan returns for another cop drama “Kartavya,” directed by Pulkit. The new show is set to premiere on May 15, 2026.
The police officers Saif plays in both projects, however, are worlds apart. In the 2018 web series, Saif plays Sartaj Singh, a troubled Mumbai cop racing against time to prevent a major catastrophe. In “Kartavya,” his character Pawan Malik is a duty-bound cop caught in an intense moral conflict even as escalating threats endanger his family.
Pulkit reveals exclusively to Variety India that Saif was his first choice for the role because he wanted to explore a side of the actor that has largely remained untouched since Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Omkara” (2006). “While growing up, I was a big fan of ‘Omkara.’ But sadly, no filmmaker explored Saif Ali Khan in the heartland space after that film. I was very eager to take him back to the village, and luckily, he came on board,” he says.
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Pulkit explains the meaning of the film’s title. “‘Kartavya’ or your duty, always comes at a cost, whether it's serving the nation, building your family, working, or anything in any aspect. The film explores that wider spectrum of thought. It’s about how far a man is willing to cross the line in order to fulfill his duties — both as an officer and as a family man.”
Support from Shah Rukh Khan
The genesis of “Kartavya” comes from a real-life story that caught Pulkit’s attention. He developed it through multiple drafts, incorporating insights from various sources to craft a cohesive narrative. He then pitched the project to Red Chillies Entertainment, with whom he had previously collaborated on “Bhakshak”. The banner immediately greenlit it. “When I wrote ‘Bhakshak’, I didn't think that Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies would produce it. But they made it, and it got much love and support,” he says, adding that while SRK isn't involved in the creative process of his productions, his support has always been unwavering.
“When I was growing up in a small city, I used to have Shah Rukh Khan's photos on my walls. To get to see him and to get two films produced by him is a surreal feeling. I think I did something good in my past life. Whatever little interaction I have had with him has been incredible. All his feedback is amazing. And the way I got support on both films was mind-blowing,” he says.
“Kartavya” went on floors in 2024 and was ready by the end of that year. It still took two years to release. Pulkit attributes the delay to the internal changes at Red Chillies. “Every film has its own journey. Some films simply take time. At that point, Red Chillies was focused on mounting Aryan Khan’s web series, which was a massive project for them. There were internal staff changes and restructuring happening simultaneously. Naturally, the film took time,” he explains. However, the director was never anxious about the film's future. “I was well informed that it's going to take time. I was never scared because I knew that they would release it with respect,” he shares.
When asked if he writes stories with specific actors in mind, the filmmaker says casting usually comes much later in his creative process. “I don't generally keep an actor in my mind. But once I write the script and read it a couple of times, I start making up my mind about casting. There are certain actors with whom I really wanted to work, like Saif Ali Khan. So when the story came, I said, ’This is possible.’ And it happened.”
When asked what he hopes audiences take away from “Kartavya”, Pulkit says: “In all my films, there’s always an undercurrent of a character striving to do something. That effort, that struggle, becomes the emotional core of my stories. I don’t consciously write it that way; it naturally happens during the process. A character has to actively pursue something; otherwise, they become passive. Audiences don’t connect with that.”
Why Pulkit Prefers Streaming over Theatricals
Pulkit made his directorial debut with “Maroon” and since then, has helmed “Bose: Dead/Alive,” “Bhakshak,” “Dedh Bigha Zameen” and “Maalik.” The last title had a theatrical release; the rest dropped directly to streaming. He prefers OTT because it gives him greater creative freedom to tell stories. “There is a lot of pressure on filmmakers in the theatrical world. For Maalik, I wasn’t happy with the final film, because I didn’t do a good job under pressure. So, I don't want that pressure,” he says.
He holds forth on the theatrical vs. streaming debate: “I think wherever you get a chance to tell a story, you should just do it. The discussion about theatre or OTT is a producer's discussion. Whether a film has recovered money or not is not my lookout. Getting to tell a good story; that's my lookout. So, I don't care if it's OTT or not. Eventually, all the films come out on OTT.”
That said, Pulkit still cherishes the theatrical experience and has not ruled out directing another theatrical project in the future. “The day I feel confident that a film can be released in theatres without the burden of Friday pressure, I’ll make one again,” he reveals.
For now, he has already moved on to another OTT film: “Sundar Poonam” for Prime Video, starring Sanya Malhotra and Aditya Rawal. “It's shaping up well. Sanya is an amazing actor. The production is wonderful,” he notes.
Pulkit wants to further explore human dramas rooted in India’s vast diversity. He concludes, “As a filmmaker, I want to keep going to new places, shoot something fresh and find different emotions and narratives.”
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