Globaleducollege at 18:09, 28 March 2026

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{{Short description|Indian film director (1976–2022)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Faisal Saif
| image =
| image_size = 150px
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1976|04|27}}
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]], Maharashtra, India
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2022|09|13|1976|04|27}}
| occupation = Film director, screenwriter, film critic
| awards = ''Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival'' Best Story (2006) <br/> ''Indian Leadership Conclave'' Best Director (2015)
| yearsactive = 2006–2022
| footnotes =
}}

'''Faisal Saif''' (27 April 1976 – 13 September 2022) was an Indian film director, film critic and writer. He began his film career as an assistant director on ''[[Aur Ek Prem Kahani]]'', ''Angaar'' and ''[[Grahan (film)|Grahan]]''. He mostly chose controversial horror themes and stories for his films and directed ''[[Jigyaasa]]'', ''[[Main Hoon Part-Time Killer]]'' and ''Islamic Exorcist''.

==Life and career==
Saif was born in [[Mumbai]] on 27 April 1976.<ref>{{cite news |title=Faisal Saif profile |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Faisal-Saif/videos |website=The Times of India |access-date=16 September 2022}}</ref> He started his career as an independent music video director. He directed videos for Catrack Music and Vital Records.

Saif made his first feature film ''[[Come December]]'' in 2003 which received the International Special Award of Cultural Vision in storytelling from the Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/news/type/view/id/1179355/sorttype//International+Award+for+%27Come+December%27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085846/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/news/type/view/id/1179355/sorttype//International+Award+for+%27Come+December%27 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2016 |title=International Award for 'Come December' | Bollywood News | Hindi Movies News | Celebrity News |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=24 November 2006 |access-date=14 November 2013}}</ref> He then made ''[[Jigyaasa]]'' (2006). India media believed that ''[[Jigyaasa]]'' was based on the life of the sex symbol ''[[Mallika Sherawat]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1249244.cms |title=Much ado about Mallika – The Times of India |newspaper=The Times of India |date=October 2005 |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |access-date=14 November 2013}}</ref> but Faisal has denied this.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} He made the film ''[[Paanch Ghantey Mien Paanch Crore]]'' with Pakistani actor ''[[Meera (Pakistani actress)|Meera]]''.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Top-10-Bollywood%27s-hottest-scenes-of-2012/videols/17648739.cms Top 10 Bollywood's hottest scenes of 2012 – Top Lists]. ''The Times of India'' (18 December 2012).</ref>

Faisal was also co-editor of ''[[Global Movie]]'' magazine and a film critic and feature writer for [[Bollywood]] for a number of news portals.

During creative sessions with veteran filmmaker [[Rituparno Ghosh]] while he was directing ''[[Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish]]'' in 2012, Saif discussed having a transgender antagonist dealing their gender identity with Ghosh, something which Saif later incorporated in his upcoming film ''[[Amma (2015 film)|Amma]]''. The character is played by acclaimed actor ''[[Rajpal Yadav]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/Whys-Rajpal-Yadav-playing-a-transgender/articleshow/46258524.cms |title=Why's Rajpal Yadav playing a transgender? |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=16 February 2015}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
* In 2006, Saif won the ''Best Story'' in cultural vision international award for his Festival Film ''[[Come December]]'' from Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/1179355/International-Award-for-Come-December |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220141358/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/1179355/International-Award-for-Come-December |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 December 2014 |title=International Award for 'Come December' |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |access-date=24 November 2006}}</ref>
* Network 7 Media Group awarded Saif the "Best Director" title in 2015 at the 6th Annual ''Indian Leadership Conclave''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ilc2015.in/network-7-media-group-jury-to-felicitate-noted-filmmaker-faisal-saif-at-ilc-power-brand-2015-edition/ |title=Network 7 Media Group ury to felicitate noted Filmmaker Faisal Saif at ILC Power Brand 2015 Edition |publisher=ilc2015.in |access-date=15 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726120738/http://ilc2015.in/network-7-media-group-jury-to-felicitate-noted-filmmaker-faisal-saif-at-ilc-power-brand-2015-edition/ |archive-date=26 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinetalkers.com/faisal-saif-bags-the-best-director-award-at-6th-annual-ilc-awards-2015/ |title=Faisal Saif bags the Best Director award at 6th Annual ILC Awards 2015 |date=16 June 2015 |publisher=cinetalkers.com |access-date=16 June 2015}}</ref>

==Controversies==
===''Main Hoon Rajinikanth''===
On 17 September 2014, Tamil actor [[Rajinikanth]] moved the Madras High Court to stop the release and screening of the film ''[[Main Hoon Part-Time Killer]]'' directed by Saif<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Superstar-Rajinikanth-moves-Madras-high-court-to-stop-release-of-Bollywood-movie-named-after-him/articleshow/42702543.cms|title=Superstar Rajinikanth moves Madras high court to stop release of Bollywood movie named after him
|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=17 September 2014}}</ref> stating that various press releases, video releases, web articles, posters and information from other sources about this film revealed that the producer had lifted/exploited the image of Rajinikanth from various movies by including in the forthcoming feature film.

Saif, after filing counter to the case denied the allegation about the film being a biopic on the superstar, He also stated he hasn't used any names/image/likeness/caricature and the case being filed on the film is baseless and done with lack of knowledge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eni.network24.co/entertainment/main-hoon-rajinikanth-is-not-a-biopic-director-faisal-saif-20096_9 |title='Main Hoon Rajinikanth' is not a biopic: Director Faisal Saif |publisher=Network 24 |access-date=26 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129085716/http://www.eni.network24.co/entertainment/main-hoon-rajinikanth-is-not-a-biopic-director-faisal-saif-20096_9 |archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>

On 3 February 2015, [[Madras High Court]] ruled out the decision in favor of Rajinikanth and restricted Faisal against using the actor's name in his upcoming film. Saif, however agreed finally to change his film's title under the pressure of his film's producers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional/rajinikanth-wins-legal-battle-against-main-hoon-rajinikanth-makers/article1-1313270.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203194702/http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional/rajinikanth-wins-legal-battle-against-main-hoon-rajinikanth-makers/article1-1313270.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2015|title=Rajinikanth wins legal battle against Main Hoon Rajinikanth makers|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=3 February 2015}}</ref>

===''Bigg Boss 8''===
On 20 November 2014, Saif was supposed to enter the Indian reality show ''[[Bigg Boss]]'' as a Wild Card contestant Saif, however praised the show by refusing his participation and quoted "Why would I be a wild card contestant when ''[[Rajinikanth]]'' has proved the world that I am a strongest contender?".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-bigg-boss-8-fifth-wild-card-contestant-faisal-saif-to-enter-the-house-with-kim-kardashian-2036463|title=Bigg Boss 8: Fifth wild card contestant Faisal Saif to enter the house with Kim Kardashian|publisher=DNA |access-date=18 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/bigg-boss-8-faisal-saif-not-going-to-the-house-says-he-doesn-t-need-it/story-AXhK2XJbteirPbIMRrW93M.html|title=Bigg Boss 8: Faisal Saif not going to the house, says he doesn't need it|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=21 November 2014}}</ref>

===''For Adults Only''=== 
In 2015, Saif announced plans to make a film titled ''For Adults Only''. Few details were released about the nature of the proposed film, but media outlets quoted Saif in describing it as "bold" and "dirty". On [[social media]] outlet [[Facebook]], Saif called the film "The most dirtiest film you'll ever see".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/Kannada/Movies/News/Shocking-A-film-titled-For-Adults-Only/articleshow/47584937.cms|title=Shocking: A film titled For Adults Only |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=8 June 2015}}</ref> Saif planned to write and direct the film, and said that the film was slated for production by Dimension Pictures, which would have been the company's first Bollywood film, according to Saif.<ref name=SaifForeign /> The film was planned to be produced in [[Hindi]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]].

Saif was looking to cast an international actress as the main character in the film<ref name=SaifForeign>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/faisal-saif-plans-to-cast-foreign-actress-for-next/|title=Faisal Saif plans to cast foreign actress for next |newspaper=[[Indian Express]] |access-date=8 June 2015}}</ref> and ultimately chose [[Dubai]]-based actress [[Andria D'Souza]] for the lead role.<ref name=IndianExpressShelved />

On 1 September 2015, Saif officially announced that the film had been shelved in deference to conservative Indian sentiments and the Indian censor board.<ref name=IndianExpressShelved>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/faisal-saifs-for-adults-only-shelved/|title=Faisal Saif's 'For Adults Only' shelved|newspaper=[[Indian Express]] |access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}}
| Denotes films that have not yet been released
|}

===As director and writer===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Film !! Language !! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2006 || ''[[Jigyaasa]]'' || [[Hindi language|Hindi]] || (Released on 10 March 2006)
|-
| ''[[Come December]]'' || [[Hindi language|Hindi]], English || (Festival Film) Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival Award Winner
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Paanch Ghantey Mien Paanch Crore]]'' || [[Hindi language|Hindi]] || (Released on 10 August 2012)
|-
| rowspan="2"|2015 || ''[[Main Hoon Part-Time Killer]]'' || [[Hindi language|Hindi]] || (Released on 22 May 2015)
|-
| ''[[Amma (2015 film)|Amma]]'' {{dagger|alt=Film has yet to be released}} || [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Kannada]] || On Hold
|-
| rowspan="1"|2017 || ''Islamic Exorcist'' || [[English language|English]] || (Released on 11 July 2017)
|-
| rowspan="1"|2020 || ''[[Danger (2017 film)|Danger]]'' {{dagger|alt=Film has yet to be released}} || [[Hindi language|Hindi]] || On Hold
|-
|}

===As producer===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Film !! Language !! Notes !! Director
|-
| 2017 || ''Sheitaan'' <ref>{{cite web|title=Nirob in Faisal Saif's 'Sheitaan'|url=http://www.daily-sun.com/post/149670/Nirob-in-Faisal-Saifs-Sheitaan|website=The Daily Star|access-date=8 July 2016}}</ref> || [[Urdu language|Urdu]] || || Sameer Khan
|-
|}

===Web series===
{| class="wikitable" text-align:center;"
! Year
! Name
! Role
! Platform
|-
|2020 || ''Kavita Bhabhi'' || Creator, director || [[Ullu App]], [[MX Player]]
|-
|2020 || ''Bhookh'' || Creator, director || Fliz Movies
|-
|2020 || ''Blue Whale'' || Creator, director ||
|-
|2020 || ''Ashuddhi'' || Creator, director ||
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=2312263|name=Faisal Saif}}

{{Faisal Saif}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saif, Faisal}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Film directors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Indian horror film directors]]

Faisal Saif - Revision history

Globaleducollege at 18:09, 28 March 2026