Saif Ali Khan was born on August 16, 1970 to an illustrious family. His father was the late Nawab of Pataudi, swashbuckling cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan and his mother is Sharmila Tagore, a renowned Bollywood actor and great-grandniece of Rabindranath Tagore. Saif has metamorphosed from a shy youngster to a maverick actor-producer. As he celebrates his 43rd birthday today, we take a look at his films, his personal life and his style.
Saif entered B-town in 1992 with Parampara, but took time to shed the lover boy image and play finely etched negative or character roles. He concentrated for a while on doing romcoms and then again did a spy film and a zombie flick. Over the years, he also evolved as a person. Always stylish, his sense of chic became even better. Read on…
Films
Debuting in Aamir Khan‘s film Parampara in 1992, Saif was awarded the Best Debut trophy for playing the main lead in Aashik Aawara the following year. But he did not fit into any bracket since he was an under-confident, carefree actor with a pronounced western accent and demeanour. It took some ensemble cast films like Yeh Dillagi and Main Khiladi Tu Anari in 1994 to get him noticed.
A spate of flops later, he was appreciated in Sooraj Barjatya’s Hum Saath-Saath Hain in 1999, even though his persona had not changed much. He played a negative role in Kya Kehna (2000), but was noticed in comedy Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega in 2001. However, it was Farhan Akhtar film Dil Chahta Hai – released the same year – that literally pushed Saif into the BIG league. In Kal Ho Naa Ho he almost store Shahrukh Khan’s thunder away. He starred in many more romantic films later – Salaam Namaste, Hum Tum and Parineeta.
Going grey again in a supporting role in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, Saif provided a sample of his wicked self in Ek Hasina Thi and then Omkara. His role as a zombie killer in the recent Go Goa Gone (GGG) was more wacky, but it worked. The actor did an experimental Being Cyrus along the way, and moved to action films like Race, Race 2 and his home production Agent Vinod.
But fans seem to prefer him in films like Love Aaj Kal and Cocktail rather than intense roles like Kurbaan and Aarakshan.
Personal Life
Saif inherited the title of the Nawab of Pataudi when his father passed away in 2011.
On the love front, after divorcing his first wife Amrita Singh to whom he was married for 13 years, Saif dated several hot women – starlet Rozza Catalano, and stars Bipasha Basu (reportedly) and Kareena Kapoor.
Saif was comfortable with Kareena and Saifeena, as they were called, lived-in for five years until they got married (watch wedding video) last year. Saif’s teenage daughter and son attended the wedding. The Nawab respects Kareena and gives her all the space she needs to handle her career.
The actor seems to be able to strike a fine balance between his work and family life, setting an example for many. He also did a film with his sister Soha Ali Khan’s beau Kunal Khemu (GGG) and made it successful. Saif wears his heart on his sleeve and is mostly well-mannered – except the odd hotel brawl, like one just before the release of Agent Vinod.
Style
Quite the Nawabi style icon, Saif is looked upon as one of the better dressed Bollywood heroes – both onscreen and off it. He looks suave and sophisticated most of the time, even in a T-shirt and jeans. Whether it’s his raw look in Omkara or his chocolate boy style in Dil Chahta Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Hum Tum, Salaam Namaste and Tara Rum Pum – fans adore him.
Nicknamed the Fourth Khan (Aamir, Shahrukh and Salman Khan being the first three), Saif today can safely say his filmography has more hits than flops and a diverse repertoire to boast of. His new films include Bullett Raja and Humshakals, promising more surprises as an actor. But he is more ambitious as a producer and had shared that he would like to go international in his field, even having joked that he was doing a film Hollywood star Natalie Portman. Saif explains that he wants to “do something big” overseas.