What did Lalit Parimoo say?
Lalit Parimoo, known for his small but memorable role in Sriram Raghavan’s 2012 spy thriller Agent Vinod, has made a startling claim. In a recent podcast interview with Siddharth Kannan, the actor blamed the film’s lead pair—Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan—for the movie’s disappointing box-office performance.
Parimoo alleged that the couple’s ongoing interference on set derailed director Sriram Raghavan’s original vision. “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 stated during the conversation.
The actor did not provide specific examples of the alleged interference, nor did he name any particular scenes or decisions that were affected. Cinecrazy has reached out to representatives for Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan for comment, but has not received a response at the time of publishing. Their side of the story remains unverified.
Was the film really a failure?
Agent Vinod was released in March 2012 with considerable buzz, marking the first collaboration between Saif and director Sriram Raghavan after the cult hit Ek Hasina Thi. The film also starred Kareena and featured a globe-trotting espionage plot. However, despite a decent opening, the film failed to sustain momentum and ended its run with mixed reviews and underwhelming collections.
Critics at the time pointed to a convoluted screenplay and an unclear tonal balance—shifting between high-octane action and comedic moments—as possible reasons for the film’s underperformance. No official statement from the makers ever cited on-set interference. In fact, Raghavan has since gone on to deliver critically and commercially successful films like Badlapur, Andhadhun, and Merry Christmas, showing his ability to execute a clear vision.
What do fans think?
Parimoo’s comments have ignited a fresh debate on social media, with fans divided. Some argue that lead actors often have a say in the creative process—especially when they also produce the film (Saif co-produced Agent Vinod through his banner Illuminati Films). Others feel that blaming the stars is an oversimplification and that the film’s script itself had inherent flaws.
Lalit Parimoo, who has worked in several films and web series, did not elaborate further on his personal experience with Saif and Kareena on set. His claim remains an unverified accusation at this point. Whether the star couple will respond to these remarks or not, the gossip mill is clearly churning.
Note: The claims made by Lalit Parimoo are unverified. Cinecrazy has reached out to Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s representatives for comment and will update if a response is received.