Days after Netflix launched its first original Indian series, 'Sacred Games' the crime thriller had created a stir.
While the series has been praised for its adaptation of Vikram Chandra's novel, the response from viewers has so far been mostly positive.
Stealing the show amidst a whirlpool of strong actors like Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte is Saif Ali Khan who plays the role of an honest yet conflicted Sikh inspector, Sartaj Singh.
In the thriller jointly directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, 'Sacred Games' tells the story of a jaded inspector who receives an anonymous tip-off about a missing crime-lord that sends him deep into India's dark underbelly.
Mr Khan’s demeanour and mannerisms in the eight-part series are so real that at some point, it becomes difficult to separate him from the character. With a slightly beefed-up body, a turban and a scar that tells a tale, Mr Khan looks nothing short of a real life seasoned cop.
And Didar Singh, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Maharashtra Police may have something to do with Mr Khan’s successful portrayal of the Sikh cop Sartaj Singh.
Mr Singh told SBS Punjabi that he met with Khan and director Vikramaditya Motwane in the actor’s office in Bandra sometime late last year where the duo along with a bevy of assistant directors spent hours discussing his 40 years of service in Maharashtra and his experience being one of the only few Sikh police officers serving in the state.
A picture of Retd. ACP Didar Singh from his days of service in Mumbai Source: Supplied
“They observed me and the way I talk, dress, wear a turban, wear a kara and asked me a number of questions about the life of a real cop. I sent them my pictures in the uniform and that is how they ended up portraying the character”, the retired officer said.
Mr Singh who still hasn’t watched the series, clarified that he is not digging for any sort of credit, nor is he interested in watching the series.
He just feels happy that he could help in some way.
“I am not someone who would take out his camera and click a selfie with the actors, I just did my duty and they did theirs”, added Mr Singh.
While Mr Singh’s name has not been mentioned anywhere in the credits, despite the director’s promise, his role was, however, offhandedly acknowledged by one of the show’s script writers Varun Grover on social media.
The series has been well received by Indian audiences many of whom have even likened it to Netflix’s hit series Narcos.
A snapshot of script writer Varun Grover's reply to Retd. ACP Didar Singh's daughter on her Instagram post Source: Supplied
However, it has also managed to ruffle a few feathers.
Rajeev Kumar Sinha, a Congress committee member from India’s West Bengal state has filed a police complaint against actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and the show’s makers alleging they have misrepresented former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the show.
Congress committee member lodges police complaint against actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and the makers of Netflix show 'Sacred Games' Source: Facebook
