Saif Ali Khan... trying times

“I’m a family man trying to look like a young, stud hero. That’s why I try to leave my family out of public appearances sometimes.” We all remember Al Pacino’s spirited retired army officer in The Scent Of a Woman. His passion for life; his street flashy flamboyance, mixed with his regal persona and tastes, working up the intrigue; his resilience and recklessness, where the blind Pacino charms the daylights out of a miss beautiful. While giving her tips on dancing the tango, he says, “Tango is not life. You make a mistake, get tangled up and you tango again.” India’s popular writer, Shashank Samant writes about the Bollywood star, Saif... He might be a distant country cousin of the character, but the line’s a near reflection of Saif’s stay in Bollywood. The man who has been tangoing in the industry for over a decade, has flirted with success, has gotten tangled up inexplicably, time and again and tangoed again. A look at Saif today and you’re more likely to say that he’s doing breezy rock and roll numbers. He rocking alright, and he has his hands full. As he enters the studio for a photo-shoot, only few hours late, he is busy on the phone with a friend explaining, “I’m feeling so outpaced by life. I have no time to spend with my family, and Amrita glares at me with a look that says, ‘Have I made a mistake?’ ” he humours.

When he did find the time for an interview he said, “Actually I’ve changed my style of working, and things have changed too. I”m doing three films today not counting LOC, which I’ve just finished. But, the best way of doing a movie is like we made Dil Chahta Hai, one film at a time. There was a time when actors from my batch, or some seniors like Akshay Kumar have done three shifts a day. The way films are being made today it is practically impossible to imagine doing that.” Today, there’s a definite talk of resurgence for Saif. What would he attribute to that? “I am getting better at my work and enjoying myself as an actor. I take my career less for granted than I did earlier,” he briefly replied. How much of the credit can one attribute to wife Amrita’s managerial skills to help the decision-making process? Also the stability she provided might have helped him to calm down. “By example, Amrita is a disciplined and serious person, very organised and methodical. I’m just the opposite in many ways. But, I do have method to my madness. Naturally having a home one feels a need for security. Amrita is an anchoring force in my life,” he is sure about his woman. The film, Kal Ho Na Ho is made by Shah Rukh Khan loyalist, Karan Johar. Wasn’t Saif worried about his role being sacrificed for Shah Rukh’s, “I’m the best cravings?” “No, ‘coz I was very clear about the role I have in the film. My character has a comfortable space from Shah Rukh’s character. The discomfort would have come if I were playing something that’s not worthy of being there,” he said.

On the topic of producers bending backward to be a part of the Western, Indo-western, mid-western and whatever films Saif said, “I don’t think we are bending backwards for the West. Ours is a new country in terms of our cinema going international. There’s a strong culture emerging. There are people who are not contented with being called second-class citizens of the world. So, things are to change, and crossover films will happen. But, I don’t think the west is going to accept African or Asian heroes as being equals. At least not in my life time. Blonde and blue eyes are probably better for Hollywood, it’s about time we get that, he said.” Saif managed to steer clear of scandals that once marked his persona. “I’ve been in the gym. I am a little more conscious of how I should behave, so that people don’t misconstrue. Sometimes absolutely rubbish has been written about me, but generally there has been truth to it. My logic is if you don’t do anything stupid, there’s no danger of being caught for it.” Is that family man talking? “You guys gave me the title of wild brat, and now you tag me family man. I never asked for it. Actually I was never wild. I didn’t take life seriously, ‘coz I didn’t really care. Now, yea, I am a family man trying to look like a young stud hero. That’s why I am trying to leave my family out of the public appearances sometimes. ‘Cos these are two very different personalities. And, the hero should be on his own sometimes.