He is one of the first mainstream actors to dabble with the digital platform and Saif Ali Khan believes his stint in a web series is only a way forward, not a step down.

The actor, 47, features in Netflix’s upcoming original show Sacred Games and said he felt liberated as a performer while working on the web series.

“It is not, in any way, a come down; but a step in a new direction for me as an actor. It is very liberating as an actor to have a platform like Netflix,” Saif, whose last big-screen release was Kaalakaandi, told PTI.

The actor said web series were the next in-thing and he “jumped at the idea” of doing one when he was offered the project.

“There is a certain quality to Netflix, it is not (typical). It has an international feel to it. Also, Vikramaditya Motwane is a wonderful director, and is a responsible show runner. He is comparing us to House of Cards. It is going to be the best show coming out of India and I am hopeful everyone will be proud of it,” he said.

The series, based on Vikram Chandra’s novel of the same name, will be directed by Motwane and Anurag Kashyap.

Saif, who has begun shooting, said he has read parts of the book and the series, which includes Nawaz-uddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte was quite different.