Saif Ali Khan (Pre-2008)

[first light]

'I don't have a bull's eye on my head that everyone can take a shot at me'

He has been around for several years now. Yet, Saif Ali Khan has never been a contender for the top slot in Bollywood. He has given hits in the past, but never been spoken of in the same breath as the other Khans.
Earlier this year, Saif came up with another commendable performance in Kachche Dhaage. And now, of course, he has the biggest trump card up his sleeve -- Sooraj Barjatya's Hum Saath-Saath Hain which releases this Friday.
Even as he was recovering from an accident -- he fell from a bike and had to get stitches on his forehead -- he was down with flu.
The Chhote Nawab in conversation with Sukanya Verma.
Does all this pre-release hype over Hum Saath-Saath Hain frighten you?
It is expected. That is the business we are in. Some films receive a lot of hype, some don't. Hype is something created automatically when reputed film-makers like the Barjatyas are involved. I have worked with other productions who have tried to create more hype than the Barjatyas, but not succeeded.
I feel the audience is interested in watching good movies. In a depressed and repressed country like ours, movies provide an escape from reality. Hence a certain amount of hype for a good movie is expected, it's nothing to worry about.
So are you not even a wee bit nervous?
No. I mean I am a professional actor -- I have been one for the last nine years. Tension and pressure are things we are quite used to dealing with. This job involves a lot of money, it is emotionally taxing and there are lot of other problems which we don't need to bore the public with, but we can deal with them.
How did you bag the role?
I got a phone call from the Rajshris saying that Sooraj Barjatya would like to meet me. So I went over, he narrated the script and asked if I would be interested in doing the film. And I said, 'yes.'

That was it?
Yeah! I think he had seen some of my earlier work and I was told that he was apparently thinking of casting me because I happen to suit his idea of a young, romantic lead. It is the role of a boy who is somewhat protected.
There are around 50 characters in the film -- does it still give you any chance to make a mark?
You will have to see the film and tell me. I am part of a very big film. I am not claiming that it is only about me. But I am happy and privileged that I got the part and I hope I've done justice to it.

Your role, apart from Tabu's, has been touted as the best in the film. Is it true?
I don't know who has seen the film and is going around spreading this news. There is no particularly important character, everyone's role is significant. And the film is amazing in itself. You see the film and decide for yourself. The post-mortem is left to the audience. Everyone has done a great job. But if people like Tabu and me, it is very sweet of them.

How was the experience of working with Sooraj Barjatya?
It was a privilege and a pleasure. I have never worked like this before. It was great fun working in the unit, it was just like a family.
Neelam played your romantic interest in your first film, Parampara and now in Hum Saath... she is your sister.
I don't consider Neelam as my first co-star, I think of Kajol as my first co-star. We were to work in Bekhudi together and then our first hit was Yeh Dillagi. Neelam is a sweet girl and she looks it. But we've never had an equation beyond 'hello' and 'bye.' So I think it was pretty much the same working with her now, except she spoke a little more to me during the making of this film.

Do you interact with your co-stars on the sets?

No, not much. I like to keep the work atmosphere pleasant. I might crack a few jokes and fool around though.

Are you moody?

Sometimes yes. I'd say, I am human. I try not to hurt people, but sometimes when I feel I am not being understood and being treated as a human being. I can't help it. For example, when I hurt myself while shooting for Friends and was lying in a pool of blood, people were taking my photographs.
People don't remember the good things you do, they simply focus on the bad things. I have the reputation of being an arrogant brat. But if people mess around with me, obviously I will be arrogant with them. I don't have a bull's eye on my head that everyone can take a shot at me.

Do you regret doing any films?
Yes, a few of them. But then again, I learnt from them, got paid for them and ran my house with them. Though at times, I wish these were better films.

What are the factors you consider before signing a film?

The script, the director and then the producer. I ask myself: If I weren't acting in the movie, would I still be interested in seeing it?' If the answer is yes, then I go ahead and sign the film.
And how do you feel when your intuition goes wrong?
But you have to do something. You can't just sit idle. Sometimes, you choose the best of what is offered to you. That is life. I have chosen the best of what I have been offered, so you can imagine what the worst must have been. (laughs)
How much does success and failure matter to you?

As much as my job does. Acting is not always about success and failure. I get satisfaction at the end of a hard day's work. But the ultimate satisfaction is when the audience appreciates it. I worked hard in my flop films too, but it is kind of pointless unless it runs. So there is an element of disappointment when the film doesn't do well.
But it is okay, one must go on. One has to learn from mistakes and try not to repeat them.

Do you consider yourself a misfit in this industry?

Sooraj Barjatya did not think so. What I think doesn't matter. I am here just to do my job. This is not my life, this is my work. There is no set of credentials required to get into this field. As Jackie Shroff once said, 'from a spot boy to a rich man -- anyone can make it here.' So there is no such thing as fitting in. And who is looking to fit in anyway? We are looking to do good work.
Did you ever think of taking up cricket as a career?
I can't play cricket -- well, not as well as Ajay Jadeja. I played a lot of cricket in school. I enjoy the game, it is in my blood. But I didn't want to play club cricket. My dad used to play on a professional level. At least now I'm working with the best in my profession in India.

Tell me about your childhood...weren't you a wild kid?
Yes, very wild (smiles)! But being wild in the '80s was not the same as in the '90s. Earlier, having a couple of cans of beer was wild -- which is no big deal now. We used to party all night and things like that. It was great fun.
I was in boarding school in Winchester, England. I remember that there was this good-looking, tough Italian guy in my school. It was my first night in school and he came up to me saying that I am very sweet and chikna and that he wants to sleep with me on the same bed. I was 11 at the time and started crying. Then I realised it was a prank.
That was funny. There are so many other such incidents, there was so much freedom over there.

Who are you closer to -- your mom or dad?

Both of them. When I was a kid and needed hugs and cuddles, then obviously I turned to my mother. But when it comes to some sound advice, then my father is the most amazing man in the world. He is a complete gentleman and I wish I were more like him.

What about your sisters?
I share a warm relationship with them. Unfortunately, I don't get to see them too often. There is an age gap between me and them. As kids, we used to stay out of each other's way.
How has marriage changed you?

It has quietened me a bit, made me more responsible. I never worried much about anything earlier, now I am much more stable.

Tell us something about the three most important women in your life: your mother, wife and daughter.
I am very close to my mother, but I talk more to my wife today. They are all different people, yet they have one thing in common. Even though Sarah is very young, I can see the traits in her. All of them are very organised. You can take them and dump them in a desert or an island, and they will end up putting some order there too.
They are thinking people and do not like to wrong others. Somehow they come across as independent, correct women. I hope Sarah is brought up that way. I am confident Amrita will bring her up very well. Sarah is a cross between me and Amrita, in looks and personality. Amrita and I are so different, but when we see Sarah, we feel it is so beautiful that we are different.

Why do you always end up playing roles of a spoilt brat?
That is a good thing (smiles). There are many aspects to an actor's character. People seem keen on capitalising on one side of mine. But I am doing different roles too.

You role in Friends is supposed to be negative, isn't it?

This film taps a totally different side of me. I wouldn't call it negative, I think it is a very real role.

Could you elaborate?
Sure. Mine is a slightly suicidal character who does not believe in family values. He doesn't respect women as he doesn't respect his own mother for various reasons. He is on a destructive path. The story is about how one girl changes him. But he ends up messing that relationship too. So there is a slightly negative shade to my character, but the film, on the whole, is positive.

How was it working with Kundan Shah?
Exhausting and fun. Because it is a serious film. Since we did not have much time or money, it was exhausting. But he is an extremely intelligent and kind man, despite his Hitler-ish behaviour on the sets (laughs).
You are working with him in Loveria as well...
Yes, I am.

Isn't your role in Loveria different from Friends?
I am playing a driver who has ambitions of marrying a rich woman.

Do you think you look convincing as a driver?
May be I don't, because I have long hair. Apart from that, I don't think I have any problems. I mean Rajesh Khanna (in Bawarchi) doesn't look like a cook, for god's sake. The point is whether the script is interesting or not. In any case, it is supposed to be a comedy.

[first light]

Saif Ali Khan
He made the world dance with him on 'Ole Ole' from the movie 'Yeh Dillagi'. Born to two illustrious parents, the Nawab of Pataudi and the erstwhile beauty Sharmila Tagore, Saif Ali Khan always knew that cricket was not his cup of tea. When he joined the film industry he was considered too 'chikna' for a hero. It was said and felt that he was not serious about his acting. He was infact called a 'royal brat'. But now he is being taken seriously and his acting skills are being appreciated by one and all. With films like 'Dil Chahta Hai' and 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' being a major success at the box office, Saif is hot property.

Excerpts from an interview with SeasonsIndia correspondent Sanyukta.

How was it playing Rohit Patel in Kal Ho Naa Ho?
It was hilarious. Actually I had to learn a bit of Gujarati for the role. I had to write those lines on a cutter behind the actor's heads because I just couldn't remember them. I can say that it is probably the best role I have done so far.


How was it working with Shah Rukh?
It was great. He is a great actor. He set the tone for Kal Ho Naa Ho and we all followed. He is always so full of energy.

People have liked your acting more than Shah Rukh's. How do you feel?
Well, I am glad that the audience liked my performance. But Shah Rukh is a top actor and I am trying to get there. I have a long way to go. I just tried to keep up with his acting standards so that people can get a high level of work to watch. It's like when you are with him in a scene, you are forced to give your best.


How was it like working with Nikhil Advani?
Nikhil is an exceptionally talented director. He has given the film a look which is completely different from the typical Karan Johar film. And he constantly had his eye on me. He told me that my role had to work and therefore I needed to do my best. He made me play my part so easily. Even though Karan had written it fabulously, Nikhil visualised it differently.


A few weeks back there was this news that you no longer want to be part of multi-starrers or even two-hero projects. Why is that so?
That's all rubbish. I know I don't sell solo, so why would I be averse to acting in multi-starcast films? I am perfectly alright with it. No doubt, you sometimes feel insecure in a two-hero film when the other hero has better lines than you, but then you can't help that.


What's your role in J. P. Dutta's LOC Kargil?
As you know it's a war film. I play Captain Anuj Nayyar. I am in love with Kareena Kapoor but even more than her, I love my motherland.


Tell us something about Ramgopal Varma's 'Ek Hasina Thi'.
I play a Globetrotting dashing bachelor who is a successful finance expert by profession. I am madly in love with Urmila. My character also has dark shades to it. I was very charged about my role in this film, but developed cold feet as I thought about it. At one point of time, I even told Ramu I didn't want to do it. But Ramu prevailed over me. Today, I'm happy to have done the film.   

[first light]

SAIF: NO PLAN TO MARRY AGAIN [/u]

source: smashits

An Encounter
 
Saif Ali Khan son of former captain of Indian cricket team Mansoor Ali Khan and famous star Sharmila Tagore, is now a successful actor. However, he has traveled a long way in his profession. Director Rahul Rawel gave his 'Bekhudi' to Saif but the latter lost it because of his carelessness. But Saif turned serious and improved his acting skill in his every film. Thus he proved his talent in 'Dil Chahta Hai'. From here his career's graph soared to new heights that prompted several directors to make offers to him in plenty. Saif has given so many hit movie like 'Hum Tum' opposite Rani Mukherjee, 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' with Salman, Sonali Bendre, Karisma Kapoor, Tabu, Mohnish Behl and Neelam, 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' with Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta besides 'Ek Hassina Thi' opposite Rani Mukherjee and 'LoC', 'Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega' and many others. However, the success in career brought misfortune in his family life. He divorced his wife another famous actress Amrita Singh. Recently we met with Saif and discussed about his personal life during our chat.

Excerpts of the chat:

Is it true that you have divorced your wife Amrita Singh?

 
Yes, this is true. I have divorced her. However, it's tough for me to say that this is a right or a wrong step. I am happy that we have not parted from each other on a bitter memory. I give respect to her; she is mother of my children. Since we differ from each other, we couldn't live together any more. Now, every thing is fine. I am satisfied that Amrita and my children are economically strong. I have changed my residence, and given our bungalow to Amrita.

Tell us something about your children?

 
Amrita is mother and warden of my children. They are in joint custody. I can see them whenever I want. This is a serious topic and I don't want my children to read something wrong about this. They are intelligent, and understand these things better. My daughter Sara has understood the situation very well.

What about Amrita?

We have spent 13 years together, and I respect her very much. She is a good actress and she does whatever she enjoys. I think she doesn't need to work now.

What happened between both of you that led to a divorce?

 
Many things are responsible for it. Yet, we tried our level best to improve our relations, but I regret to say that we failed. I am happy that we separated without any bitterness. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings so I wouldn't say much more about it.

Has any other woman entered your life? Would you tell us about her?

I had met with her only about three months ago. This is not a secret though, Amrita also knows about her. I never hide anything from people; I don't want to hurt any body.

Would you marry again?

No, I have no such idea in my mind

[first light]

Interview : Saif Ali Khan on Parineeta
 
So far Saif Ali Khan has been seen in the light of an urban and modern man, flaunting look that is highly fashionable. With ‘Parineeta’ he converts in to a retro style persona, with combed hair and in the attire of a perfect Bengali gentleman.

Saif Ali Khan has been going strong in his career right at this moment. He has worked with big banners and even managed to driver films to box office hits. He is a newfound star in the gallery and the producers find him bankable too. ‘Parineeta’ is a turning point in his career as he submerges into a kind of role, he has never done before.  The cast and crew are awestruck by his fluid performance, as he awaits to unleash his best career performance before the audience!

Excerpts from the Interview:

How did you bag the role for Parineeta?

At the first instance when I heard the script the character fascinated me. Pradeep wanted to have me in the film though Vidhu was a bit skeptical if I could carry the role on my shoulders. I intimated him and found my way to the film. My mother has always wanted me to do a Bengali film. This was my time and opportunity. So I dedicate this film to my mother.

Did you go through this novel before?

I didn’t know about it before I got connected to the film. I made my mother narrate the whole story to me. It is just awesome.


You co-star with pristine faced Vidya Balan. What is your take on her?

She is just amazing. Though I didn’t think so when I met her first. While I took up the film I was hopeful of acting with a leading lady. As Vidya stepped in front of the camera, all my notions changed. She made the ideal heroine for the film. She has made the role come back to life.

Parineeta is a period film. Why was it made such?
 
Parineeta was not destined to be a period film from the first instance. It was a film that was to be set in a modern milieu. A trial was carried out on the backdrop of modern settings, but somewhere something was missing and it didn’t click. So we believed in bringing it out as it is, in its true essence and colour. 

Pradeep is a new director. How was he as a director?
 
He is great and genuine visualizer. He is a perfectionist and has extracted the best from the team. The film has a heightened effect due to his outlook and he has captured a periodic film in a very interesting way. He is emotional and funny at the same instance. I’ve learnt a lot from him I the process of the film. I look forward to work with him again.


The film is shot in the backdrop of Kolkata. What did you feel about the place?

It’s a fascinating place. It’s beautiful and charming. It’s a cultural place and helped us to revive the genuineness in the film. Even in the sixties it was a very liberated place. The food of Kolkata is what I liked the most, as I got addicted to fish, rice and mishti doi.
 
What does the film mean to you?

It’s a story that speaks about love and relationship. It can be literally called as a love triangle. The film interweaves many stories of relationships of all kinds. And it’s narrated in a great manner.
 

© Copyright 2005 by MusicIndiaOnLine.com
 

[Arwen]

Father in jail, stressed Saif is 'falling apart'

 
Mumbai, June 20 (IANS) "What next? I keep asking myself that question repeatedly," says Saif Ali Khan, who discovered a new facet to himself this Father's Day when his father Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was behind bars in a Haryana prison.

Father's Day Sunday saw Pataudi in judicial custody in Jhajjar after being arrested on charges of killing an endangered blackbuck. And son Saif is distraught.

"I don't claim to be the ideal son. Who is? But this incident has certainly brought me closer to my dad. I was scared of him earlier. Now when he's landed up in trouble I feel protective."

Saif was in Kolkata to promote his new film "Parineeta". "The film is doing well here. It's my first brush with a Bengali milieu. I wish I could enjoy the attention," Saif told us from the hometown of his mother, Sharmila Tagore.

"But right now the success of 'Parineeta' seems so distant. I'm so stressed by what's happening to my father, I'm falling apart."

His father surrendered Saturday, after having been in hiding since June 3 when he was found with the carcass of a blackbuck.

Said Saif: "Dad has given himself over to the law, and that's really cool. He's being very brave. He has broken the law, but it doesn't feel that way to me. I admire him for taking the right decision. My mom, elder sis and I have been stressing so much... it's not healthy for any of us."

Saif has been in touch with mom throughout. Younger sis Soha is in Italy shooting for David Dhawan's "Shaadi No.1". "I've told her not to worry at all. This is my responsibility, my burden. I want to take care of it all by myself. Mom is there. And we'll manage. Sure, Dad has been denied anticipatory bail. But now we're hopeful he'll get bail and he'll be out soon."

Saif sounds uncharacteristically optimistic and decisive.

"Life teaches you so much in so little time. I feel I've changed as a person ever since dad got into trouble. It's as though I've finally grown up. I hope I can prove a worthy son during this hour of crisis in the family," said Saif softly.
 

[LolaRuns]

Saif: My self-worth has returned

Subhash K Jha | June 27, 2005 15:49 IST

Saif Ali KhanTill a while ago, life was beautiful for Saif Ali Khan. His solo hero film, Hum Tum, was a hit, and his latest, Pareenita, is doing very well in multiplexes.

"Parineeta is for my mom," Saif says. "I finally got to tap the Bengali side of me."

Saif never had it better. But he never had it worse either.

Even as he was grappling with his separation from wife Amrita Singh, his father Nawab Pautadi is in trouble with the law over a poaching incident.

"As his son, I'm really concerned," Saif says. "If my father has done wrong, then I guess he must be punished. But it must be remembered that he's 64 years old, and not in the pink of health. He wouldn't survive prison. And he has once been a terrific national hero on the field. I don't think he meant to transgress the law seriously. My Amma (Sharmila Tagore) is worried sick."


   
The actor, however, is relieved that Pataudi was granted bail. "I must say he handled himself with great dignity. Though Amma was hysterical with anxiety, my dad sailed through the ordeal. He just surrendered at the police station in a simple kurta-pyjama. For a man who had never been anywhere near a police station, his calm was exemplary.

"Let the law take its course. I am not in a position to comment on the matter. But I do know we don't want dad to ever see the inside of a jail, and we'd do everything in our power to make sure it doesn't happen.

"I don't know why these hard knocks are served up to me," he continues. "Maybe I deserve to be treated this way. But the stress is taking its toll on me."

He sighs, "And now, my success is being held against me. They say I've left my wife and children because the success of Hum Tum got to my head. Not true! My leaving Amrita (Singh) was not overnight. It was on the cards for a long time, and  another woman had nothing to do with it. When it (the separation) happened, it was like a very painful amputation. But it was also the best thing to do, given the circumstances. I'm at peace with Rosa (his current girl friend). I don't know what the future holds for us. But I feel whole and healthy."

Saif rules out remarriage. "I've gone through it once."

When told that people speculate that Saif would do it again, he fumes, "You mean leave Rosa for another woman? But how do I explain myself to people who think that way? Why do I owe an explanation to anyone except my family, my parents, my wife and two kids?"

Saif Ali KhanHe continues on a different track, "My son is such a chamcha of mine. He even does his hair like me; tries to walk and talk like me! While Sarah (his daughter) understands the situation, Ibrahim (his son) thinks I'm just out for a long shooting schedule. Once, he asked me very loudly in front of a hundred people, when I was coming back. I felt like sinking into the ground. I miss my children so much! Anyone who thinks I've abandoned them doesn't know what it's to be like an absentee parent."

"I am Sarat Chandra's hero in a lot of ways," he says. "I wish I had done Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas. But Sanjay had offered me the role of Devdas's friend Chunnilal (which eventually went to Jackie Shroff). I  wanted to be Devdas. I think I am Devdas."

"I don't have any answers for what has happened in my life. All I know is every penny I earn is for my children. I live for them. I'd die for them. I love my Dad and my kids. I want them to be happy and healthy.

"My wife and I have gone our separate ways. I respect my wife's space. Why am I being constantly reminded of how terrible a husband I was, and how awful a father I am. I've my son Ibrahim's photograph in my wallet. Each time I look at it, I feel like crying… I'm not allowed to meet my children. They aren't allowed to come visit me, let alone stay with me. Why? Because there's a new woman in my life who'd influence my children against their mother? That's hogwash and Amrita knows it. Right now, my kids are growing up with Amrita's relatives and maidservants while she's out working in a television serial (Ekta Kapoor's Kkavyanjali). Why does she need to do that, when I'm willing to support my family?"

Saif reveals, "I've settled for extravagant post-breakup financial arrangements. I'm supposed to give Amrita Rs 5 crores, of which I've already given her approximately Rs 2.5 crore. Also, I'm paying Rs 1,00,000 per month until my son becomes 18.   I'm not Shah Rukh Khan. I don't have that kind of money. I've promised her I'll pay up the rest of the money, even if I've to  slog till I drop dead. Whatever I've earned from doing ads, stage shows and films is for my children. I've no money. Our bungalow is for Amrita and the kids. Rosa and I stay in a two-room apartment. Still, I've never been more at peace with myself."

Saif Ali KhanHe adds, "After a long time, I feel my self-worth has returned. It isn't nice to be constantly reminded of how worthless you are and to have taunts and insults thrown at your mother and sister. I've gone through all of it. Today if I've found someone who makes me feel I'm worth something, what's wrong with it? Earlier I had hit such a rock-bottom with my self-esteem that I'd be shocked if someone complimented me for my looks. Today, I've regained my confidence. If someone says something nice I say, 'That's fine. Stars are supposed to be complimented'."

Saif lets us in on his Italian girlfriend, Rosa. "Unlike Amrita, Rosa is not from the film industry. Sure, I liked being put in touch with the industry's bigwigs by Amrita, having dinner with Karan Johar etc. But in hindsight, I'd have been better off finding my way through the industry. There's a theory that whatever I am today is because Amrita took me by my finger and led me  through it all. It's probably true. She has played a big hand in my growth as an actor and human being. But it's a blessing to be with a woman who has nothing to do with movies. Even Shah Rukh's wife Gauri keeps out of his career. I'd like to keep it that way."

http://in.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/27saif.htm

[GreenBear]

Got this from TB:

from thetelegraphindia.com


Living (in) for the moment



Chaotic, erratic, unpredictable — the new Saif Ali Khan seems straight out of an Oliver Stone movie. You just can’t guess what’s happening in the man’s head. Striding in with girlfriend Rosa to the Ramji Londonwaley premiere at Fame Adlabs, he opted for No Entry! Setting up a media meet on a certain Monday, he landed up on the Goa beaches, instead. You are not surprised then, when you hear Shah Rukh Khan publicly asking him at the IIFA Awards in Amsterdam: “Arrey Saif, kabhi phone to kar liya kar”.

But when it comes to his on-screen image, the actor is putting in a lot of effort and a whole lot of thought. Determined to break his featherweight image after Dil Chahta Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho, and to some extent Hum Tum (ya, ya he did win the National Award for that Harry Met Sally rehash), he did a Parineeta, even exchanging his role of Girish with Shekhar.

And now, before you can label him a period-piece guy, he’s back with his oh-so-cool avatar in Salaam Namaste. What’s more, he’s turned down the role of Bhootnath in the Pritish Nandy-produced Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam. After all, he’s already said “yes” to Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Yagna, now called Eklavya. And another purana film is asking for too much for the man hailed as the metrosexual face of Bollywood.

But doesn’t he look a tad too masculine in Salaam Namaste considering a metrosexual man is supposed to cry and use moisturisers? Saif retorts with a roaring round of laughter: “The images are always given by the stylist,” he finally answers. “It’s not me who is there in the film, it’s my character. I had to be like this for this character because it is based in Melbourne, which is a very sporty city.”

And does the actor in him change when he takes on something so light like Salaam Namaste compared to the more methodical and “maddening” project like Parineeta? “Acting is my profession,” pat comes the reply. “So, I am comfortable doing whatever it needs me to do for my film. Salaam Namaste has me in a fun-loving, very realistic role. I play Nikhil Arora, who hails from Punjab and is the kind of guy today’s youth will easily identify with — very independent, one who has his own mind.”

Doesn’t that sound very Saif? The man’s just moved into a new flat in Shastri Nagar behind Fame Adlabs in Andheri with Rosa. So it was kind of a Salaam Namaste déjà vu. “I do believe in the theme of the movie (of living together outside marriage),” he admits. “Our society is changing. There are so many college kids living together to save rent. There are people who want to be sure about the relationship before committing to marriage. The Indian multiplex audience is now the most forward. So the film only reflects what’s happening in our society.”

Salaam Namaste, which releases this Friday, also has Saif re-uniting with his Kal Ho Naa Ho co-star Preity Zinta, a relationship which goes beyond the sets. “She is fabulous,” says Saif. “She has tremendous energy and is very talented. And because she is a very good friend, we always have lots of fun shooting together.”

Quietly creeping into the big Khan league with back-to-back hits, Saif doesn’t mind working with fresh blood, though. “I am very comfortable with new directors,” he says. “Siddharth Anand (director of Salaam Namaste) is enthusiastic, has fresh ideas and is ready to work harder and harder. It was fun working with him. Even Parineeta was Pradeepda’s (Sarkar) first film. He too was a bundle of energy and was already very experienced as an ad film-maker.”

Heartening for Saif is the fact that the adulation and accolades for his performances have not only come from the audiences but from his very own family. And the admiration is mutual. “Oh I really loved Mom in Viruddh,” he gushes. “She is gorgeous in the film. I would love to be cast with her. Let’s see if something really good comes for both of us together.”

All set for another hit, Saif knows he’s on a winning streak and should make most of the sunshine phase before another dry patch hits him. “I am working hard and by God’s grace, it is all paying off,” is the Saif secret.

[vivster]

A great interview with Saif (this is the transcript)  I actually watched this online and it was excellent.

I am not insecure anymore: Saif Khan



Anuradha SenGupta
CNN-IBN
Posted Sunday , March 19, 2006 at 18:42


Saif Ali Khan is an actor who has both cajoled and charmed moviegoers into accepting a different kind of hero. A hero, who is sometimes romantic, sometimes mean, often funny but always human. After more than a decade of somehow getting by in the film industry, these days Saif Ali Khan is accepted as a fine actor. One sure sign that Saif has arrived is the number of brands he is endorsing. At the last count it was six brands, approximating at Rs 12 crore. And that has catapulted him to being a star endorser after Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. Saif is currently working on Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Ek Lavya and Vishal Bharadwaj's Omkara. Saif Ali Khan talks with CNN-IBN's Anuradha SenGupta on what it is like being Saif.


Anuradha SenGupta: Saif, I am going to start with a couple of questions that have come from the viewers. And the first one is from Dev, from Chennai who says, "Hi, How are you?" and then there is Shobha also from Chennai who says "Are you happy about the way your life is going at this point of time?�


Saif Ali Khan: First of all, I would like to say hi! For Dev from Chennai - I am fine thank you. And whether I am happy with the way my life is going right now - yes, very much so.


Anuradha SenGupta: And currently you are doing well?


Saif Ali Khan: Yes. I mean it is how you look at it really. I choose to look at it that it is really great. I am actually really lucky that I have got a great job. I have wonderful children and a great family. And there are many things in my life, which are loaded with the potential for extreme greatness and happiness.


Anuradha SenGupta: So, I think Shobha from Chennai should be happy with that answer.


Saif Ali Khan: Yes, it is better than fine thanks. (laughs)


Anuradha SenGupta: In 1999 or 1998 rather, when you had just begun shooting for Hum Saath Saath Hain, it would be very easy to ask what has been going wrong with the films that you have been doing? In 2006, it is very easy to say what is going right with everything that you are doing off late, in terms of the work that you are doing.


Saif Ali Khan: Last year, I think every decision that I took was based on the fact that I was very clear that it will go right. Right from doing Parineeta to Salaam Namaste, which was after Hum Tum. So, I was pretty clear that this was the right path. This year is slightly different, I mean I am a little clueless as to what I should do next. And I am still choosing films instinctively. When I came into movies we were being given different versions of scripts that were primarily written for Amitabh Bachchan and Sashi Kapoor. Especially in two-hero films like Parampara and Yeh Dillagi.

Anuradha SenGupta: But don't tell me, you did not like Yeh Dillagi, because I loved it. I have had faith in Saif Ali Khan since then. And then came Main Khiladi Tu Anari.


Saif Ali Khan: I really wish, as a professional that there were 20 writers and maybe 15 directors who really knew their craft. And then when they came with their film, one would have the confidence that they clearly know and understand the structure of the movie and that you are in safe hands with them. It is a good job, you can make a lot of money and there is the fame aspect also but one can also pay a price for being an actor - couple of wrong decisions and you get most of the flak.


Anuradha SenGupta: Would you like an equation like Satyajit Ray to Sharmila Tagore for yourself someday?


Saif Ali Khan: Yes, I think someday. In the past I have said that whatever I have done, should be watched by as many people as possible and the effort should be appreciated. And again in the past, it also mattered that the film should make money.


Now, I think a balance between commercial films and doing something to workout your talent, which gives you peace enough to say that - yes, I am an actor and this is what I actually do for a living.


I cannot see myself being a candyfloss boy only. I don't think that is serious acting. Though, it is an art also. Such films have a kind of suspended disbelief of the Yashraaj movie where the real thing is also done on a slightly unreal level. But, I would hate to say that that is all I do.


Anuradha SenGupta: I think a lot of people will be happy to hear that. But, everybody wants to know if you have now and maybe it is a bit unfair because it took you a long time to reach where you are now and I can understand that you want to be a bit comfortable where you are but have you got into a comfort zone?


Saif Ali Khan: Let me just go back to where you mentioned Satyajit Ray and amma (Sharmila Tagore). I went to the Mariken film festival and I have always known that she was a very big star at one point of time - I mean a number one star which seems to be an important tag in commercial cinema.

But, nobody was really interested in that kind of work that she had done. What they were interested in were like her work in Devi and even Martin Scorcese was talking about it. So I suddenly got a feeling that this is what has contributed to her image and stardom in those days is perhaps a combination of being a stylish and glamour doll plus being an actor.


I think if we remove the Bengal angle and the Kolkata filmmakers from that body of work, it will diminish drastically. Like, a film like Ek Haseena Thi meant a lot to me, even if it was not commercially successful. A few filmmakers saw it and so another facet to my personality was revealed to them, which they thought they could use in a more serious way.


Otherwise, unfortunately we tend to be known by what people perceive us through some film that they have seen. Even colleagues are sometimes just not prepared in a way to accept certain things about you - till you are actually successful in a solo film, unfortunately. And that means business - that is if you are bankable star then things tend to change slightly.


I think after achieving that, I was so relieved. And I knew that it would happen after doing Kal Ho Na Ho with Shah Rukh Khan. That if someone was to offer me a my-kind-of-movie in my-kind-of-space, I could make it happen.


Anuradha SenGupta: So, then Hum Tum did that.


Saif Ali Khan: It came just at the right time and when I was all set to prove something. And the script was just tailor-made for me, though it wasn't written for me at all.


Anuradha SenGupta: So that question I had about coming out of the comfort zone and what keeps you in the comfort zone. What do you think?


Saif Ali Khan: You look back and I think there have been few actors who have stayed in the comfort zone in Hindi movies. And after a while it just finishes and....


Anuradha SenGupta: And you become a caricature of yourself in that sense.

Saif Ali Khan: Yes, and I think that if you follow the principle of - what would be really interesting for me to do might be interesting for other people to watch also. There is a comfort zone with films like Salaam Namaste and Hum Tum which I also feel I can do better than anybody else.


Anuradha SenGupta: Are actors more insecure than anybody else and any other profession?


Saif Ali Khan: I cannot speak for others but I was insecure and I think the root of insecurity is not knowing your job and it is a bit irreverent. It is bordering on atheism on some sort of way to turn up and say - 'no am good and I'll do it properly.'


It is too arrogant and I think it is something that should be kept quiet about and but I like it. But when the top superstars of this country are so humble and say that 'we are lucky to reach where we have,’ then one begins to think.


Humility is the unspoken language of our profession. I am not as insure as I was. My problems are to do with myself only - its about going to the gym, not eating too much, or not drifting off mentally. Everything is on a platter, it’s just a question of focusing.


Anuradha SenGupta: I was really excited about this interview because I was thinking of those English classifieds where people try to meet other people and there is abbreviation that says GSOH which stands for good sense of humour and everytime I have seen you, either on-screen or even in your interviews it’s almost as if you have got your tongue almost always firmly in your cheek. Now is that me or...?


Saif Ali Khan: (Laughs) No, again it is one of those things like I think it is hysterical to laugh at myself. I think we all have been brought up like that - my sisters and I are like that. And I think if you can laugh at yourself then it is not very difficult to laugh at some of the situations we find ourselves in. Humour is important.

Anuradha SenGupta: Being self-deprecatory is an art?


Saif Ali Khan: I think the philosophy behind it is that if you put yourself down a lot then others won't.


Anuradha SenGupta: Everything was like a PG Woodhouse book, isn't it?


Saif Ali Khan: I love PG Woodhouse. Why, do I remind you of Bertie Wooster?


Anuradha SenGupta: No, not Bertie Wooster. But it is as if you lived in that space.


Saif Ali Khan: It's interesting you say that. I am a History student and I love reading about the past in many ways. And as opposed to looking at the future, I do wish I had been born in the '20s or the '30s.


Anuradha SenGupta: When women just started smoking.


Saif Ali Khan: Yes, and when everyone thought it was good for you! For everything, from fashion to music to the kind of cars, to also the kind of sports that was played and the manners. Yes, I sometimes I think I was born a little bit out of my time. But as far as being funny, well, it is also not that nice to have that expected of you.

Then you suddenly get that feeling that people around you don't take you seriously. But the cool thing is, in this profession the only thing that is taken seriously is box-office success. So, if you have that with you, then you can do what you want to and be as silly as you want to be.


Anuradha SenGupta: When did you stop laughing at the film industry that you wanted to be a part of?


Saif Ali Khan: Again all the laughter was coming out of insecurity and just picking on a couple of people - the likes of the loudly dressed ones or the ones who wore white shoes and white pants. I think the difference was focusing on Amitabh Bachchan, because to me he is simply amazing given the situations of some of the films he has worked in.


And then forming a different kind of philosophy was also required like 'look I am getting paid and I am here, doesn't matter if the set is not so nice,' 'doesn't matter if the colours are not working, I must work to deliver'.

Anuradha SenGupta: When you look at the films that you have done, Yeh Dillagi, Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Dil Chahta Hai, Darna Mana Hai, Ek Haseena Thi, Hum Tum, Kal Ho Na Ho, Parineeta and Salaam Namaste. Now if you look at this body of work and if you leave aside the box-office success or the awards it may or may not have won you. Which one would you say as an actor you have mastered some element of the craft that you were not getting before.


Saif Ali Khan: I think Hum Tum is an example of mastering certain areas of the craft like there are scenes in the film which are quite long and just have a random conversation between a girl and a guy. To give that energy and to make it hold and at the same time talk in an entertaining way was not easy. I mean there is not even an action sequence or a kind of plot that is being driven by a story, which is captivating the audience for two-and-half hours. So, that I think is an achievement.


And in Kal Ho Na Ho keeping up with Shah Rukh and some of the stuff we did together was a lot of fun. When two actors are really in the moment and are looking into each other's eyes with full belief and trying to convince each other that what is happening is actually real. That is when the smallest of nuances get reacted to and a moment of illusionary reality is created. Something spontaneous and exciting kept happening during the shooting of the film.


Anuradha SenGupta: You are hungry now for this big body of work, isn't it?


Saif Ali Khan: No, I think it will happen automatically. I mean there are certain things, which have put me in a kind of groove where it will happen. Like Othello and Ek Lavya are two films which I have done now already.


Anuradha SenGupta: And there is a Yash Chopra or a Karan Johar film early next year.


Saif Ali Khan: Yes, I hope so, after such serious films. Can't keep doing such films also - they are too heavy.

Anuradha SenGupta: Otherwise who would pay for the Mercedes?


Saif Ali Khan: Exactly! For Yashraaj films, we shoot like kings. We go to Melbourne, we start work at 10 in the morning. We finish at five. We go for dinner to a nice pub and talk about what we did. We take an apartment in Melbourne for 90 days and from doing yoga on off days to partying, it all happens and it is superbly well organised.


Anuradha SenGupta: It is one end of the spectrum in a sense.


Saif Ali Khan: And then why would you choose to leave all that to get grimy and dirty like going to Wahi near Panchgani with no mobile signals and mosquitoes. And I remember thinking when I was offered it that why is my instinct saying that I should go ahead and do the film. It is because that is what it is about, to balance everything. So, after doing this shoot when I hopefully go to Vienna, I'll be like 'It's nice to back'. But just going to the likes of Vienna would be too easy, too soft and that is the point.


Anuradha SenGupta: Another question from one of our viewers - Jinet from Delhi says "I am a great fan of Saif and I think Hum Tum and Kal Ho Na Ho were superb movies. What is your most unforgettable experience in your career as a star?"


Saif Ali Khan: Assistants who had been a little skeptical earlier came up to me and said we have worked with a lot of people and the kind of energy you had in Salaam Namaste and the way you sort of amble on to the set and look quite disinterested in what’s going on and suddenly you knew all your lines. Now that happened with four movies and it started irritating me after a while when people said, 'I don't know how you did it. You must have surprised yourself.'


Anuradha SenGupta: Is it still happening? It is a bit hard to believe.


Saif Ali Khan: Actually it just stopped recently. But it happened as far as Hum Tum.

Anuradha SenGupta: You mean to say they didn't see what I saw in Yeh Dillagi?


Saif Ali Khan: (Laughs) I know, its absolutely terrible. I think there are so many influences and I have seen so many things in my life and I think it is time that I need to assimilate them. And form then into a belief system and a confidence system and a system that is Saif.

I have been very lucky, I have been pretty much everywhere and I have met so many people and so many things have happened to me and I have done so many things to people. I think if I was to just respect that and slow down then I could be emotionally quite rich. May be it is also because I have been a second-lead.


Anuradha SenGupta: That worries you, does it?


Saif Ali Khan: Not really, my ex-wife Amrita said that if you don't think like one, you will never be one. That is because part of me never really thought like a main lead. And this is a big thing as we are talking about a saleable personality that people would give money to watch.


Anuradha SenGupta: You have a lot of fans and you are a youth icon. Now, there was news about how you had a minor accident, you picked up the child, took him to the hospital and everything was the way it should have been. On the flip side, you had a Toyota Lexus by bending import rules. Is money so important and especially at the risk of your reputation?


Saif Ali Khan: No, of course not. I did not even realise that it is illegal. I was told that the customs duty was paid for this car. I just wanted a nice jeep to drive in Mumbai. And they said it was possible as long as you don't have it in your name, you can avoid paying an X amount. Imagine it from my point of view, I did not even get beyond telling somebody that I wanted this jeep. And then people spoke to people and then all these middlemen got involved. And by the time I actually spoke to the customs people, I realised that I had made a mistake.


I am not interested in being the ring leader of smugglers. You understand that I just wanted to drive the car. By the time it was explained to me as to what all had happened from illegal money transfer to all sorts of things, it was quite late. So, I would like to plead ignorance to most of those things.

Anuradha SenGupta: It is not what many people think that the rich and famous can do a lot of things and get away with them. Is it a bit of that?


Saif Ali Khan: No, not in this case. See, I have really been thinking, like my father was upset by all this. That I suppose we did break the law in a way and ignorance is not a good enough excuse. And I think that it should be a lesson to everyone out there and I don't even know where that car is from.


Anuradha SenGupta: So, it bothers you the hit that the reputation has taken.


Saif Ali Khan: Yes, of course it does. I feel terrible, especially when I feel that I don't really deserve it. I thought I can buy a car and as long as it is not on my name everything is fine. And after two years I was told that I could change it to my name. It was all so murky.

However, the customs officials impounded my car and said that you finish the paperwork and take it back. They are really not interested in hassling me at all. So, I did what anybody would do. I went out and bought a Mercedes - nice and legal - and it is a wonderful car.


Anuradha SenGupta: You mentioned your father and we are talking about legalities. Salman Khan has just been sentenced for a year for shooting an animal which is on the verge of extinction and also your father's case in the past. I can understand that you belong to a family where at one point of time going for a shikaar (hunting) was something that everyone did.


Saif Ali Khan: But times have changed and again since the matter is still in court so I can't talk much about it. So, let it be a lesson to everybody else. I mean there are certain things you should not do. The way I see, it is something very hard to say because the case is still in court but the only thing I can say is that I hope the truth comes out. We weren't hunting black bucks in Jodhpur.

Anuradha SenGupta: It is a question of morality at the end of the day. Anyone of these instances that we talked about and some of these happen to have to do with you.


Saif Ali Khan: You know the root could be respect for the law of the land. And sometimes we don't have it because things don't work the way they should. You don't get the benefit for being the highest taxpayers in the country. So, sometimes you don't believe and have respect that you should for the system.


Anuradha SenGupta: You have become a good boy.


Saif Ali Khan: No, am not saying I have become a good boy. I am just saying that we don't have that respect and we need it. But we need other people to deliver also. We need to know where are money is going when we pay tax. When we did a show to raise money for the Kargil war widows, it felt nice to know that the money actually got where it had to. And not that it was spent half way in the middle by somebody else.


Anuradha SenGupta: Your sense of humour remains intact though, because I remember we were supposed to meet Saif Ali Khan the day he was being questioned by the customs. And I get a message saying since CNN-IBN had done the report so it is equal karma that this interview gets cancelled. So how do you hang on to this sense of humour?


Saif Ali Khan: I think if you can break the fake pretences of being on a level and just sometimes get a little naked sometimes and say 'ok I made a mistake and I'll pay for it'. And the minute you do that you will suddenly start smiling and start wondering how serious is life and how many people have I hurt. So, it is funny in a way. It is also calming and relaxing to just say - ok I'll pay the duty.


Anuradha SenGupta: You have been asked this a several times, what would you have been, if not an actor and I know you could have been a cricketer and if you were one then you would have been a third generation cricketer. So what else could you have been? The way you are going these days - a rock star?


Saif Ali Khan: A wildlife warden.


Anuradha SenGupta: But what playing the guitar in live shows? Is it a hobby that some brands are plugging into for you. And you are getting to live out your hobby on stage.


Saif Ali Khan: It is a big difference playing well on your own and playing in time and sync with other people. Performing with Parikrama went really well. I think I would have gone into advertising. I mean writing copies.


Anuradha SenGupta: Do your children think that you are the coolest?


Saif Ali Khan: Yes, Ibrahim thinks I am quite cool. And Sara is brought up like us, I mean even if she thinks so she would be happy to mention other people also.


Anuradha SenGupta: So no harm in keeping everybody on their toes. Saif Ali Khan, thank you very much.


Saif Ali Khan: Thank you.

[D.t.]

Interview : I think we should get married, says Saif

Saif Ali Khan, who recently underwent an emergency appendectomy in Kuala Lumpur, says it is high time he tied the knot with his long-standing girlfriend Rosa. 
 
'I think we should get married. My mom thinks we should,' Saif told IANS in an interview.

Currently he is in Los Angeles as part of a concert but he is not allowed to perform and is feeling guilty about it.

'At the end of every show I don't even break into a sweat. That's how little I am doing for the tour. And I ask myself, what the hell am I doing?'

Saif is excited about his face appearing on an Australian stamp. 'I'm excited about it. I've ordered 50 of those stamps. I'll probably frame one in my study.'

Excerpts from the Interview:

Is Rosa with you in LA?

She's joined me from England. I think we should get married. My mom thinks we should.

Saif, how are you coping with the concerts after your operation?

I am doing okay. I have been jetlagged. I haven't performed much, so it's a bit depressing. They are paying me well, so here I am on stage. I didn't have to come for the concerts. But I did because I wanted to.

In fact, Sushmita (Sen) mentioned it on stage. She said something very cool. She said the show would have been finished if I hadn't come along. I am not dancing... Maybe I'll play the guitar in my next concert. There's some hectic travelling. But I am relaxed.

You are feeling guilty?

Yeah... At the end of every show I don't even break into a sweat. That's how little I am doing for the tour. And I ask myself, what the hell am I doing? I had seen how hard Shah Rukh Khan worked during our Temptations tour. I know it isn't my fault if I had surgery.

But they really love me out here. When I see the audiences' response I am like... 'Wow!' They probably feel sympathetic towards me for limping to LA after surgery.

 
That surgery was sudden!

You can say that again! It wasn't laser surgery. The surgeon used a knife on my stomach. But it was really good surgery. I can't think of a better place than Malaysia to fall ill. The hospital was unbelievably clean, like a five-star hotel. Also not expensive... not that it mattered at a time like that. But when I saw the hospital bills, I didn't baulk.

Your face has been put on an Australian stamp...

I don't think it's a big deal. They just captured a particular moment from the Commonwealth Games, and I happened to be part of that moment where India is being represented. I looked up the other stamps on the Internet, which have been released for the occasion...It wasn't like they decided, 'Let's put Saif Ali Khan on the stamp'.

I just happened to be there. But yes, I'm excited about it. I've ordered 50 of those stamps. I'll probably frame one in my study. But it isn't like Satyajit Ray being felicitated for his contribution to cinema or something.

But the spoilsports say, why him?

The spoilsports - that's a good one - don't realise they weren't celebrating an Indian star but the spirit of India. So these spoilsports can just put their fangs away. But it's great fun. Someone asked, why not Rani (Mukerji) and Ash (Aishwarya Rai)? I said I am much sexier.

The spoilsports also think you shouldn't have charged huge money at the Commonwealth Games.

First of all, it wasn't huge. It was what one normally gets paid to perform at a televised event. And if they didn't want stars, they could have got routine dancers for a much lesser price. No one pays you until they think you are worth it. And these people didn't even argue about the money. Perhaps this is the first time we got paid for a government-sponsored event. Maybe that's bothering some people. Not me, though.

Did you enjoy doing the bhangra with Rani?

 
 Oh yes! It was one helluva spectacle. I thought it would be just an ordinary stage performance. But when I got to the stage in Melbourne I saw 800 dancers. This was the same playing field where my grandfather and father had played cricket. So it was an unbelievable experience...with an unbelievable amount of people.

Do you still regret not being a cricketer?

Not any more. I used to regret it until recently. But cricket was never a serious career option.

Until recently you were seen as a frivolous hedonist in your close circle.

That I still am...okay, no longer so. It's time for me to get serious.
 

© Copyright 2006 by MusicIndiaOnLine.com
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/ar/i/actors/344/3/general/5/
 

[Arwen]

 Being a star son, Saif Ali Khan, too took up acting as a career. Most of his initial films were double hero flicks with lots of masala. However, with Dil Chahta Hai it became clear that Saif has a lot of potential as an actor. With films like Hum Tum and Salaam Namaste, Saif also proved that he has the power to pull off a film, all by himself. Saif also happened to be the only among the current commercial stars to go off beat and do an English film like Being Cyrus, which won him a lot of appreciation. And now, the actor will be seen in a completely different, rural get-up, playing a character called ‘Langda Tyagi’ in Vishal Bharadwaj’s Omkara. So lets have a chat with Saif and know more about Omkara.
http://www.indiafm.com/features/2006/07/27/1394/index.html

Like we all know, Omkara is based on Shakespeare’s play Othello. How much scope did you see for yourself, when you were offered this role?
I think the fact that this film is based on a famous play by William Shakespeare, is what sets it apart. It’s not only an adaptation but very true to the original. It was one of the few formats that were suited to Indian sensibilities. Shakespeare used to write for the front benchers. The most attractive part of this project is that it is based on something special.

Othello is one of the few formats that suits to Indian sensibilities.  
You’ve surprised everyone with your new look in the film. Tell us something about that.
Well, Langda Tyagi is a political mafia thug in Western Bihar. When I was offered the role, a lot of changes were required in my look. I had long hair at that time. However, after Nirmal Pandey’s role in Bandit Queen, long hair would have no longer been original for a rural Bihar setting. We worked on the character’s look from head to toe. We started with a crew cut, put scars on the face along with the yellow teeth and earrings. There was a limp of course because the character’s name is Langda. So all this required quite a lot of preparation


It is said that the greatest evil is born out of the greatest love. How true do you think that is?
I think Othello is an extremely powerful play. Omkara is very true to that. It is not exactly a feel good movie and that is the USP of the film. The story is satisfying but it dwells on the darker emotions of human beings. A lot of people know what its like to be jealous. Unfortunately, a lot of people also know what its like to suspect your partner cheating on you. It is extremely disturbing and you do crazy things. It makes you do things that you wish you hadn’t done. Most of the aspects of the original play have been retained in the movie. Omkara is as true to Othello as Maqbool was to Macbeth.
 
The music of the film has a lot of latkas and jhatkas. How much did you enjoy that?
I think one of the biggest advantages of the film is that our director, Vishal Bharadwaj is also the music director. It’s a sort of one man army. His sense of background music and film music is tremendous. Ganesh Acharya has choreographed ‘Beedi Jalayle’ with the kind of abandon and jhatkas that only a Hindi film set in a rural area can have. It is so expressive. It was a joy to watch what Vivek and Bipasha have done and also what they made me do as Langda Tyagi
 
You kind of bailed Bipasha out, during the shooting of the song. Apparently she was terrified of the dancers.
No I did not! I think it was such an authentic setting. I don’t think those men in the video have seen a beautiful woman in the last 50 years. So you have 500 frustrated and desperate men leering! I think Bipasha was a little uncomfortable. But they were all good boys.

How was it to work with the other co-stars?
Well Ajay Devgan is always fun to work with. He gives me a lot of space to perform. I think he has done a fantastic job in this film. It is as if he was born to play Omkara. It is a very controlled lion like performance. The energy of the two characters is very interesting to watch. Konkana Sen is a sparkling actress and she is so natural. She actually brightens up the screen. I think Kareena has also done something really fantastic. She is a commercially successful actress. Yet she was so at home playing something so earthy. It is not something you would expect from her. But she has taken it up and delivered really well. Vivek Oberoi has been cast very well. He has acted well. It’s a well cast movie. Naseer saab of course is great as always. Even the character actors in the film are phenomenal.

Did you have any tough experiences on the set?
There were quite a few, actually. When the beedi song started, the choreographer told me to start moving to the music. I kind of started shaking my head. He told me that it’s not a trance party or a western song. The village guy will dance differently. So that was quite funny. There were no bad experiences. There was this shot where I am in the shadows, looking at a mirror. My director suggested that it would be very artistic and beautiful if I did it naked. I said that I am prepared to do that as long as he directs me naked. He said he wouldn’t so that didn’t happen. It was funny.
 
Weren’t you nervous about the new look? How did Vishal Bharadwaj convince you?
That was not such big deal. The big deal was learning the lines and getting an authentic accent and body language. The look wasn’t exactly unique. A lot of people look like that. My effort was just to try and look authentic. Cutting your hair is no big deal, really. The media makes it sound like it’s the biggest thing. It’s really not. It’s just a hair cut.
 
What was your first reaction when you heard the script?
I just thought ‘wow’! Its going to be a mind-blowing western mafia meets Shakespearean love story. It’s a little like the old Italian western films where you see sweaty characters and can actually smell them! Vishal is good as a film director, music director and writer.

Have you had the chance to watch any of Shakespeare’s plays?
Unfortunately I haven’t seen Shakespeare being performed on stage. I have seen Macbeth, long ago

[2hapyft]

http://in.movies.yahoo.com/060729/201/669dl.html

Saturday July 29, 12:58 PM
SAIF ALI KHAN  INTERVIEW  : Pride & Punishment   
By Roshmila Bhattacharya

He says he's proud to call himself an artiste in Omkara. Yet, playing Langdi Tyagi was a punishing experience too. For perhaps the first time, the chhote nawab had to consciously make himself not just emotionally repellant but also physically unappealing. And the face in the mirror that stared back at him was so scary that he stopped watching the rushes. Saif Ali Khan on his most complete transformation
 
Which was the first Shakespearean play you remember reading?
(Frowning thoughtfully) Well, I read Macbeth when I was in school but the first play was probably Henry IV. Of course, at the time I never imagined that one day I would play a Shakespearean character. For that matter I never visualised myself as an actor but the drama in the plays was so strong that even when one was just reading one tended to become an actor. Being an English major I read at least six of Shakespeare's plays including King Lear and Hamlet. And over the years I've come to realise just how suited all of Shakespeare's plays were to Indian cinema.

What were your impressions of Othello and Iago in particular and did they match Vishal's?
The first thing that struck me about Iago, even in Shakespearean literature, was that he was given more lines than even the central character Othello. He's a psychopath and going by one of the interpretations it was because he was impotent. In fact, one of the reasons Iago hates Cassio, the good-looking one, was supposedly because he suspected him of sleeping with his wife. Of course, we didn't go into that area in our film. (With a wry grin) As our cameraman pointed out, my wife Konkona in the film looked much too happy to be married to an impotent man. However, even otherwise Iago or Langda Tyagi as I came to know him was something of an animal. And Vishal was hell-bent on making him as unattractive as possible starting with a close shave and ending with scars, stained teeth, scruffy clothes, ear-rings and a general unwashed look. This was one film where I was performing from head to toe. Normally, I'm playing a version of myself but here the transformation was so complete that I found little resemblance with the real me. After the first shot I was told that this was not a trans party (Laughs). Playing Tyagi was a nightmare but as time went by I found myself enjoying the character though he was still unrecognisable.

Didn't the distance make you wary of accepting the role?
(With a quiet chuckle) When Vishal first came to me with the role I just stared at him wondering why he had come to me. It was so unlike anything I had done before. But maybe that was what was exciting for him...and for me too. When you're sitting on a set, completely preoccupied with another film, and someone comes to you with a proposal, you either come up with a disinterested "No, thanks" or an inadvertent "Wow" because the narration has shaken you up. That "wow" is the first indication that this is something worth getting involved with. Of course, even then the "Yes" takes its time coming, more so when it's a character like Langda Tyagi.

Why?
We're in the business of selling dreams and it's always a thrill to be playing a larger-than-life hero. Then a character like Tyagi comes along whose main job is to make himself disliked...feared And while a negative role is certainly more interesting...more free...than some of the straightforward parts, you're also nervous about how it will go down with the audience. But today, after doing Omkara, I'm proud to call myself an artiste. (With a naughty twinkle) It certainly makes doing the next Yashraj film with Siddharth Anand more fun. It's a relief to be able to take a bath again.

How different was Tyagi from Karan in Ek Haseena Thi?
Karan was more sophisticated...Suave, stylish, urbane..He was more western in his approach. Of course, I approached Omkara like a desi Western too. Like all those cowboys Tyagi too spends a lot of time in the hot sun and that accounts for the oily skin. The 303 badge, obviously stolen from the police, was also my idea. However, while Karan though a rogue, was close to me, in his body language and the language he uses in general, Tyagi was far removed. Even his West UP dialect took time getting used to for someone who has the reputation of being an angrez because I went to school abroad. The first day was impossible but after a couple of months of learning the lines by heart and then playing with them, I was quite comfortable imitating one of the boys from my farm from back home in Pataudi. However, even when the words started to trip more easy on the tongue, Tyagi made me think constantly. I had to devise these little touches for him like playing with his biceps or scratching his ear as opposed to pulling up his collar the way Karan might have done.

You made the ultimate sacrifice for Tyagi when you snipped off your Samson locks on the day of Eid.
(Grinning) Yeah, it was my qurbani to Allah. Being a Leo I'm very attached to my hair and for a while, whenever Vishal brought up the subject of a hair-cut, I would shrug it off saying,"Why can't Ajay shave off his hair instead?" But then, when I thought about it, I couldn't see Tyagi with long hair, like Nirmal Pandey in Bandit Queen.

But you could see yourself like Gabbar Singh.
Someone came on the sets, looked at me and said, "Wow, you look like Gabbar Singh!" Well, the tattoo came from him but it was never vaguely in my mind to be influenced by Gabbar or anyone else. But yes, while normally it takes me about 10 minutes to get ready, this time it took close to an hour. The entire process of getting ready for Tyagi was very laborious.

What was your reaction to your near shaven look?
I remember sitting in front of the mirror asking Vishal once again if he really wanted me to cut my hair. When he insisted I went for it. (With a laugh) Rosa called me an evil mother-of-a...(Trails off)...Let's just say "bad mother" when she saw me. I saw just one shot from the film and didn't much care for the way I looked, with no hair, yellow teeth and a scary face, so after that I never viewed the rushes again fearing it might make me lose my conviction in the character. That I might try to make Tyagi look more attractive. There are some films you like watching with an audience while with some it's enough that you did them. (With a wry smile) There were a lot of qurbanis I made for Omkara. Not only did I shave off my hair for the role but I also stained my teeth. They are still yellow. And then there's the limp. There were times when I had to redo a perfect shot because I had forgotten to limp. So then we made one shoe higher than the other and I ended up with a sprained ankle that's still to recover. But still I'm proud to call myself an artiste in Omkara.

Your co-stars, Ajay Devgan and Bipasha Basu, insist that Langda Tyagi is the highlight of Omkara?
(With a mischievious smile) I guess, the fact that I'm playing him makes Tyagi somewhat more interesting. But yes, he's pivotal to the plot. Things happen because of him. Ajay was born to play Othello aka Omkara but Iago aka Tyagi is not someone you'd imagine me playing.

Did you find yourself tapping into any grey areas when playing him?
There were moments. I have a fragile temper too, take things personally, and tend to fly off the handle. But not for long. I calm down quickly, I have more control.

Does Rosa watch your films?
Yeah, she's seen all of them with subtitles from the last couple of years, and a few stunners from the '90s too like Main Khiladi Tu Anari. Parineeta is one of her favourites. She appreciated my performance in the film as also the distinct look. Rosa is a very patient lady and I admire her for sitting through my films despite not understanding a word. If I had to watch an Italian film every week I'd be tearing my hair (Chuckles).

While on Parineeta will you be doing Pradeep Sarkar's next?
My next film is with Abbas-Mustaan. It's a thriller they're directing for Tips. Sexy, slick, fun...The story of a brother and a lover. These days I do just one film at a time. How else can you look different? The only reason I had to say "no" to Feroz Khan's remake of Qurbani was because I can't plan too much into the future.

After Hum Tum, Parineeta and Salaam Namaste you must be flooded with offers. What are you looking for?
I go primarily by instinct. It takes me five minutes to say "yes" but when it's a "no" I'm hopping around for a couple of weeks or more. The producer's also important because he doesn't just pay for the film but also has to make it happen, then sell it correctly and publicise it right. I noticed from early in my career that it was usually the films made by big banners that did well.

There are talks of you turning producer along with your sister Soha?
No, I don't see myself turning producer. I'd like more creative freedom, yes, but I think I'll just stick to the game I know. Production is too much of a headache. I can work 16 hours at a stretch but after pack-up I don't want to be hanging around the sets. I just want to go home.

[Anamika]

I am no superstar: Saif Ali Khan

By IBNlive.com, Sunday October 29, 03:18 PM
A talented actor who after years of being saddled with thankless roles decided to break away and show, what he is really made of. In the last two-years Saif Ali Khan has delivered not only a string of hits but also a bunch of credible performances that put him at the top of his league.
CNN-IBN Entertainment Editor Rajeev Masand speaks to the star about his journey to the top.


Rajeev Masand: Let me start with an offensive question first. You spend very little time in India these days. You are either travelling or shooting abroad. And when in India, you are seen mostly shooting for ad films, doing lots of endorsements for big brands. It seems you are on an endorsement spree to just grab some money and run. Is that true?

Saif Ali Khan: Not really. I would rather make money doing some prestigious top-level brand endorsements. I do not make too much money from movies. And my focus is not just to make money. I do films because I love them. I do a script and work with a production house simply because I love being an actor. I am not just looking at the financial gains but its got more to do with doing something substantial by way of films or even endorsements for that matter.

I feel lucky to have got the opportunity of doing big endorsements. I know that it will not last forever and that all these projects might not always come my way. But I just hope it lasts for a few more years. Perhaps I won’t take the money and run but would rather gracefully accept the money and walk away.

Rajeev Masand: You have been on a roll work-wise. Your solo films Parineeta,Salaam Namaste, Being Cyrus and most recently Omkara have done quite well at the box office. Tell me, does success tastes any different now?

Saif Ali Khan: I think you get things only when you are ready for them. When I wasn’t successful, I had many fantasies about how things would be like when I become successful. I think one of the best things about being successful is the lack of pressure in terms of competition from other actors.

I have done solo films, and the most wonderful aspect was that I was free to do my own bit. In my past films, I often felt inferior to the people I was working with. That feeling of inferiority somehow played on my mind and affected me slightly. I only hoped to get out of that slot and do better things on my own.

Some two-three years ago, I got a clear idea in my mind that I wanted to play a character that would be urban and new. I wanted to play someone who can is more of a character than a hero. I wanted to play this guy who is not western but is just a normal guy living in Melbourne or Amsterdam. And then I played exactly similar characters in Salaam Namaste and Hum Tum.

Rajeev Masand: You also played such a character in Being Cyrus.

Saif Ali Khan: Being Cyrus is slightly different. I think it was more of an artistic sort of whim. Though it was an amazing production. There is another world out there of alternate cinema, which works on low budget but is great cinema with really well organized crews and teams. That was also something that I enjoyed doing.

Rajeev Masand: Is that the reason why people were so pleasantly surprised with Omkara where they see an actor that they have perceived largely as this ‘hip urban guy’ suddenly take a u-turn with a film set in the Indian heartland.

Saif Ali Khan: Yes, that was the plan and I think it worked. Its nice to balance things out by doing films like Omkara. That is how people are in a large part of our country. These kinds of films are not surreal but they have got more to do with a different kind of reality. Though it has got little to do with absolute real life and emotions.

Hum Tum made me look like a new hero. It did not look like someone I had played before. There was something about the character that looked right and fitted all the parameters of Hindi cinema. But at the same time had newness to it because it had me playing it.

We have taken the same thing forward with Salaam Namaste and to a lesser extent with my latest film Tara Rum Pum as well.

Rajeev Masand: What are the benefits that success allows you today? Something that you did not have some 5-7 years ago?

Saif Ali Khan: I think, confidence and freedom of choice are a few things that I have now. The freedom to take a couple of months off and to be able to say that ‘I won’t do this project because I choose to spend the time with my family’ is something that is possible now. Actually I am just beginning to be successful and it has got to do more with luck and guidance. I think I still have a long way to go.

Rajeev Masand: You play guitar, don’t you?

Saif Ali Khan: Yes I do. In High school it was compulsory for each one of us to take up a music instrument. And I took up guitar. I loved guitar-oriented music whether it was classical or rock. I thought it would be a fun to learn and then I started thoroughly enjoying it. I recently performed with Parikrama, which is a fantastic group. We are planning more of such concerts in late December in about four cities. I think that should be exciting.

Rajeev Masand: Do you feel powerful with your guitar? Like when you performed on stage was it a big thrill?

Saif Ali Khan: When you are actually playing live, it is a different ball game all together. It is a tremendous experience. If you are just pretending to play, you can feel like a rock star. But if you are actually playing, it’s a special feeling. Its not like when you are acting, but rather a very humbling experience. You feel like you have created an artistic field around yourself. Similarly I feel that doing theatre would really be expanding horizons.

Rajeev Masand: So do you plan to take up theatre?

Saif Ali Khan: Not really. I don’t see myself doing Hindi theatre and with all due respect to the English theatre, I don’t see much relevance of it in India. The audience is limited and even if you are great you perhaps won’t be noticed that much. You have a limited amount of time to spare, and you would certainly want to spend that doing films. You need to manage time between work and family and have a bit of a private life. Doing a play would perhaps be too time consuming.

Rajeev Masand: When you go for holidays do you prefer big cities or the country?

Saif Ali Khan: I like both and I’m very fortunate that either I adapt very quickly or my work suits what I happen to want. We were in New York for about a month and half. Just as it was getting crazy, we were shifted to Bedford, which is just an hour away from the New York City. It is full of lakes and trees.

I didn’t go back to the city even on day offs. It was really nice. I am slowly becoming a country person with good company around or even alone. But, yes there have been a lot of big cities in my life recently.

Rajeev Masand: Do you crave for anonymity sometimes? I asked Preity Zinta this question and she said that she really wants to be left alone and not be recognized all the time. I asked Shah Rukh Khan the same question and he said he would be clueless if people didn’t recognize him. Would you also like to be left alone sometimes?

Saif Ali Khan: I think I have that amount of anonymity to a certain extent. We are not world famous in any possible sense. It also depends where you go. Usually only Bangladeshis, Indians or Pakistani people recognize you.

I probably take it more seriously when there are other stars around. When you are at a premier or a public place signing autographs, I want my share of stardom at that time. But generally if I’m with my daughter in a mall, and some kind of a scene gets created, I have to alter my thinking to not loose my temper and say ‘leave me alone’ kind of things.

I am a very private person and I do get a little intrusive because of that. Unfortunately you have to get rude when things are getting out of hand. At times at a press conference or somewhere else, things do get out of hands. It’s a stampede sometimes with people literally jumping on to you. Sloppiness does get me a little tense when it gets rowdy and noisy.

At times it’s not even worth answering a question because people can hardly hear you. But of course you have to remember that all that would be seen would be your face. You wish if only people could see what is happening behind the camera they would perhaps understand. To incessantly answer your question, I love my job and I love doing it.

And of course I appreciate that stardom has opened so many doors. We all are so privileged. I am very grateful to everyone for it, but do I crave anonymity? Perhaps I’m not famous enough to crave for something like that.

Rajeev Masand: Do you think of yourself as a role model for your kids?

Saif Ali Khan: Yes. I am a role model for them whether I think of myself as one or not. Everything that I do, somewhere down the line both of them will base what they want and what they don’t want on what I’m like. Whatever you do, you are going to make a deep impression as a parent. Whether you give helpful guidance to them or not, it remains a fact that they will look up to you.

Rajeev Masand: So do you have mind your Ps and Qs for that?

Saif Ali Khan: I think I am quite well mannered in that sense. But sometimes kids see you in situation when you are getting a bit too much of attention. I do scowl at times.

My father is a role model for me. He never looses his cool. He is a true gentleman in a very dignified sense. My sister and my mother always tell me to look up to my father in tense situation. They tell me that when in doubt I should look at my father how he would react in a situation like this. I would like to set similar example for my kids.

Rajeev Masand: Of the two of your kids, who is the more spoilt one?

Saif Ali Khan: I spoil both of them equally. Its weird because both my kids Sara (daughter) and Ibrahim (son) have such distinct natures. Sara came first by a couple of years. She is six years elder to my son. She is already a young lady now. Right now Ibrahim is obsessed with Count Dracula.

He plays cricket and many other games. His mum has enrolled him in Karate classes so I have been going there to catch some of his action. His favourite sport is cricket. I read out stories to them and its fun to expose them to my childhood heroes. I tell them about things like Treasure Island and the stories that I have read as a kid.

Rajeev Masand: So do you think your son is going to pick up (cricket) what you didn’t ?

Saif Ali Khan: I wasn’t so bad really. He plays pretty well now. I think it will take some time before he knows for sure that is he is going to take up cricket seriously. By the time he turns ten, we will know whether it’s a gift like it was with my grandfather and father.

Rajeev Masand: Do they have any favourite film of yours?

Saif Ali Khan: I don’t know and I never really ask them. I think only recently have they found me acceptable. Like most people I don’t think either of them were Saif fans till about five-six years ago.

Rajeev Masand: So who were they fans of?

Saif Ali Khan: Shah Rukh, Salman who else? Sara used to kiss the TV whenever Shah Rukh would to come. Ibrahim does looks up to me. He copies more or less everything including my hair-cut, clothes and other stuff. There is great amount of responsibility there as well.

Rajeev Masand: Well all the best to you. We hope you continue to be a great actor and an even better dad.

Saif Ali Khan: Thank you Rajeev. It was a pleasure talking to you.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/061029/211/68uny.html

[Anamika]

'Siddharth Anand has really grown with Ta Ra Rum Pum' - Saif Ali Khan   
By Businessofcinema.com Team     
_{13 April 2007, 03:49 PM}

 Staging the wicked Langda Tyagi character in Omkara saw Saif Ali Khan walk away with all awards in the best villain category. Now after playing the foreign returned prince in this year released - Eklavya, Khan is playing husband-father-car racer-winner-loser-victor in his forthcoming film Ta Ra Rum Pum.

While such a multi-faceted character may be a first time experience for Khan, this film marks his second association with director Siddharth Anand (Salaam Namaste), Rani Mukherji (Hum Tum) and Vishal Shekhar (Salaam Namaste).

In this interview, Khan shares his experiences…

Excerpts:

Tell us something about your forthcoming film Ta Ra Rum Pum.
Ta Ra Rum Pum is a very personal story about a rise and a fall and the rise after that. It is every man's story, every family's story; it is about how you deal with tough times. I believe films are about treatments. The simpler the story the better it is, it should not be very complicated. 
Ta Ra Rum Pum is about redemption, how in life often what happens when you are down. If you can make that beautiful and see the beauty in being poor or unhappy, not having all the material things, that's life! But if you have the right people around you and you can laugh and enjoy that phase then you are a winner and that's what our film is all about.
It is dressed up as a very contemporary love story and has got everything that the genre requires, from action to comedy, a modern romance and a modern family which send out the right messages in the film. The film has adult and fairly serious themes tackled in a way that the entire family can watch and deal with, so I think in that sense it's also a very responsible movie and these are the kinds of films that define the culture of our country.

In the film you play a car racer. How was you experience enacting that role? Did you undergo any special training for the same?
Well, it was extremely tough sitting in the car because there are no doors and once you are locked in there, it's extremely hot and humid and it was hard for me to breathe in there. Luckily there was a driver next to me in the other car and I looked at him and told him it was hard for me to breathe. He told me that 'you got to want to do this', he was talking about the passion and the drive.
It might sound a bit filmy but that's when I realized I wanted to do it and I stopped feeling claustrophobic, which I normally don't feel. But in such a case when the car starts heating up there is a lot of carbon monoxide that gets thrown into the engine and the car heats up - its like a metal coffin.  Sometimes there is no air and there is black smoke coming on to your face because the engine is open and the kind of force that you have on your head when you are speeding at 150 miles in an hour. I've never driven that fast ever, it's almost crushing. It's quite an intense thing, but as usual there was no training involved but it was a lot of fun.

What is more interesting to play, a metro sexual chef in Salaam Namaste or a car racer in Ta Ra Rum Pum?
I hate the word metrosexual. I can play the Salaam Namaste part because it is very much like me, it is quite close to my nature. They are actually both very similar character spaces.
If you meet Nascar drivers its not like they are all Clint Eastwood. They all seem like regular guys with boring haircuts and moustaches, they don't look like daredevils at all but they actually are.
Even the racer in Ta Ra Rum Pum is just a talent, he has to drive fast but he's interested in the bigger things that happen to him in his life. He is interested in what is going on with his family and kids. Racing is just a passion of his that he enjoys doing. It is definitely a sub plot in the film and an important part of it, but it is not what the film is about. So they are both actually similar characters, but yes, we have this driving theme in the film and I play a larger than life role.
The guy in Salaam Namaste is a hero for different reasons, as he overcomes his own fears and that's what a hero does. You can not say one is bigger than the other. To get over your fear of commitment and say you will marry a woman is bigger than getting over your fear of fast cars and being able to go through the smoke, they are as frightening as each other. They are just different metaphors for conquering your own fear.

How was you experience working with Rani second time round after Hum Tum?
I think chemistry has got nothing to do with either your intentions or how you feel. There are many real life lovers who don't have chemistry on screen, there are people who don't even know each other, yet set the screen on fire.
I agree I have great screen chemistry with Rani. In fact I was watching Hum Tum the other day and I just think it's a magical movie in parts. I think Rani is a phenomenal actor and she brings something really special to the screen for which I respect her a lot. It is competitive for me to be working with her because I actually want to be better than her because she is so very good and that makes it a healthy working relationship. 

This is also the second time you are working with director Siddharth Anand…
I came across Siddharth in Hum Tum and I have seen him interact with Aditya Chopra. I have seen how these films are developed. There are just conversations between childlike creators, when I say childlike I don't mean young, I mean pure and innocent people sitting around and the way they talk about making movies whether it's conception, development or execution. Siddharth has really grown with Ta Ra Rum Pum.
Compared to Salaam Namaste, Ta Ra Rum Pum is a much bigger movie thematically and also in terms of budget. I think he has really come of age in this film as it has been bigger and more difficult film to handle and he seems to have done it calmly. I always think action movies are really a test of a director. But this is a family saga and at the core of it, it is a rise and fall and rise again classic big film with an action surplus. It is not easy to direct, it is a big undertaking and I think he's pulled it off.

After Salaam Namaste this is also your second time with music director duo Vishal and Shekhar. What do you think about the music of Ta Ra Rum Pum?
Vishal and Shekar have tried to incorporate different kinds of musical influences, in each song. I actually prefer the music of Ta Ra Rum Pum to the last time we worked together in Salaam Namaste.
My favourite tracks are Ab To Forever, Hey Shona, and Saiyyan Re. I think it's great what Vishal and Shekhar do. I think we have a tremendous musical culture and a wide range in the country. We should continue to push the envelope in terms of using world influence and mixing and doing fusion. As we have got the singers and the musicians we just need a little more imagination when it comes to putting the actual song together.

This is the first time you have worked with children in a film. How was the experience of working with them?
It is said it can be quite scary working with kids, but they were more professional than most actors I have worked with and are very efficient. They got it right the first time and they were committed. One day I wanted to bunk shooting because I had fever and even this kid Ali was ill that day. But Ali kept shooting the whole day and I was waiting for him to go home so that I could go home… and then Siddharth told me how could I go home while this little kid is still shooting and that was a lesson to me.
I enjoyed working through my illness and I felt like I had given something and achieved something special. In the rain, wind and in the cold we shot with the three of us and it was fun. To top it all they were really good actors and they gave a lot of purity and spirituality to the whole project. They give a wonderful atmosphere to the film.

What do you feel about merchandising for a film like Ta Ra Rum Pum?
Films are huge in our culture and country and children are a massive audience. My son Ibrahim wanted to buy a Krrish doll because he thinks Krrish is cool. I think merchandising is cool. Atleast with Hollywood we wanted to buy pencil boxes, Spiderman and Batman character pencils so why not for our movies?
But in order for merchandising to make sense, the films must create that kind of an icon, so it all starts with the movie.

http://www.businessofcinema.com/?file=story&id=3076

[Steena]

‘The boy in me has been put to sleep’

Author: Shubhash K.Jha        Date: 27 Dec 2007

Saif says now everything in his life will be done in a man’s style

Saif Ali Khan has seldom been in a happier place. And we aren’t talking about Bangkok where he’s currently shooting with Rani Mukerji for Kunal Kohli’s new film. Ladylove Kareena Kapoor was with him. and so are kids Sarah and Ebrahim and there are New Year plans being discussed as Saif looks back on arguably the most tumultuous year of his life. Read on...

How do you view 2007?
Tremendously life-changing. I fell seriously ill, now I find myself more alive than ever. Yeah, it’s certainly been a very eventful year, and incredibly special on a personal level.

You’ve been stationed in Bangkok forever!
I’ve finished work on the Kunal Kohli film five days ahead of schedule and I’m staying on for Christmas in Bangkok and then Kareena joins us for New Year in Hong Kong. The kids are with me. We just thought we’d explore the East for a change. I never thought we’d wrap up so fast. Kunal seems to have come even more into his own as a director. Our comfort level has heightened since Hum Tum. He finds me much more focussed. I think I’ve done well in the film.

2007 was professionally lean for you?
They’re good years and bad years in every professional’s life. 2006 was good for me. But 2007 wasn’t. I’m emotionally involved with all my films and it’s painful when they don’t succeed.

It must’ve hurt when Eklayva and Tara Rum Pum performed poorly?
Lots of times films don’t work. That’s not really in my hands.  Ultimately it’s no big deal. You’ve to have the strength to move on without brooding over the failures. Given a chance I’d do them both all over again.

What did your health scare in 2007 teach you?
You mean besides ‘smoking is injurious to health?’ It did make me value life more. Though I always valued life. But I knew it wasn’t time for me to go.

You’ve to star in 25 classics before you go.
I’d like that. Though my health scare was a setback, I was happy to get the break, to be on my own and get rest, brush up my French, take guitar lessons.

You like being on your own?
Not any more. I’d like this phase to last forever.

You sound very confident about your relationship with Kareena.
I am. I’m extremely and completely committed. I’ve found true love and I’d like people to respect that as much as I do.

Everyone says Kareena is  volatile and you are too unsteady for this to last.
A lot of people say a lot of things. She’s the most wonderful person I know.

Are you now looking at a life together?
Yes, I’d love that. Right now our respective work occupies most of our time. It’s of paramount importance to both of us. But even if I sound old-fashioned I’d like to say my intentions are honourable.

Are your kids comfortable with Kareena?
They have only met a few times. It’s been great whenever they have. My kids are happy when they see me happy.

There was a lot of speculation about the way the relationship started.
We do live our lives in the public glare. We’re open to people passing judgement on us. I’ve no problem with that. Public perceptions are generally based on incomplete information. I’m not here to clear up those misconceptions. It’s enough for me to know I’m doing the right thing.

You’re turning producer in 2008?
Yes we’re starting several productions. The first one would be directed by Imtiaz Ali. We’re in talks with directors like Anurag Basu and Sriram Raghavan. I want to make the films that other producers won’t make with me.

Why the strange look for Tashan?
It’s just a moustache for God’s sake!

Has Hrithik Roshan borrowed your moustache  for Jodha-Akbar?
Ha ha. Maybe I borrowed it from him. Or maybe it’s the same fake one that we’ve been sharing.

Closing thoughts on 2007?
It’s been a learning year. Now everything in my life will be done in a man’s style. The  boy in me has been put to sleep. Whether it’s work or my personal life... everything will be done how a adult would do it.

[Noelblue]

Oo, thanks for posting Steena, what a great interview.

Good for him for being supportive of their relationship and coming out and expressing such confidence in it! Maybe Ms. Bebo needed someone who'd been through life, already been married, had kids, been through the roller coaster of fame.

He's really turned into a great actor... I have to admit I'm totally there for Tashan.