SAIF ALI KHAN: ‘YOU MUST ASK KAREENA WHEN SHE WANTS A BABY’
There can just be a one line to describe this Nawab of Pataudi: Hes a Bollywood Khan with a difference be it in films, thoughts and style! Heres presenting Saif Ali Khan
Happy Ending looks like a quirky movie. Is it?
Quirky is a bad word. Quirky sounds very niche, funny for just a handful, something like an old Parsi ladys humour. As in, Can I have some tea? and her response is, Get out from here. That is quirky. This is very mainstream and fun.
What spurred you to produce this film?
Somewhere into production, I was looking at doing something interesting as an ad for myself. Raj and DK were so much fun on Go Goa Gone; the zombie humour in it was universal and mainstream. All the romcoms that Ive done so far have been chick flicks. There should be a romcom from a guys point of view, and Happy Ending is that film with a guys point of view. And though its got male humour, its universally funny.
Why does Kareena feature in just a cameo?
The part was just right for her, and she has been very sporting about it. When you watch the film, youll realise the directors have used our relationship well. They have cast us against each other. It works that we are in a real relationship for real. Otherwise, I think a part of me is generally wary of exposing how I feel on screen. I am a little guarded, or not as interesting on screen with my wife as I am with the other girls.
Does that mean we get to see no Kareena-Saif movies?
It means it has to be a really smart idea or something sensible to get us in a film. We should be able to come home to each other, instead of spending a day together on the sets, unless its something really correct.
Sajid Khan and youve also had a happy ending to your fight recently. What triggered it off in the first place?
I was never upset with him. He felt a little bad as he, obviously, was possessive of his film. But I was not happy about the fact that he was upset, so I went to see him and we had a good laugh over it. The whole incident was reported in the most embarrassing way. It just didnt sound right. Its a bit sad. Im sure even great cricketers dont always have great innings.
How are things with you and Sajid now?
Its great. Hes a really funny person. I like talking to him, which has nothing to do with work.
Is there work on the anvil too?
No, not at the moment! I think he likes all kinds of movies. He is a student of world cinema, so I think he should do something on that
As a producer, what do you want to make next?
I might do another one with Raj and DK, something thats funny and has scope for performance too. I like their sense of humour. Maybe a sequel to Go Goa Gone that has nothing to do the zombies; and maybe a Rabindranath Tagore play, which is artistic and relevant. I am excited with so many of his stories that are socially relevant and beautiful love stories at the core. I like The Skeleton, which is not usually associated with him. I guess, the Tagore in my blood wants to do something for THE Tagore.
Is your dad Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudis biopic on hold then?
No, its a lovely story. Itll make for a better biopic than anybody elses, I can promise you that. Its got everything - from a Bollywood heroine to a handicapped hero (the loss of an eye before a game). Its just too good a story with a lovely title like Tiger, but we cant find anyone with the grace to play the character. Its too cool.
Cant you do it?
I dont think so. First of all, he was a prodigy. He was playing at 19.
Cant Ibrahim debut with it then?
No, hes just 13. And forget him...acting like Tiger Pataudi is one thing, wholl play Sunil Gavaskar, Vishwanath and Gary Sobers? International cricket in that era was more exciting than today, in terms of personality. Today, the players are so padded up with helmets and gloves that you cant even recognise them when they are out in the middle. They are too boxed up to have a style of playing. Watching Azharuddin bat had a charm thin, lanky and stylish on field. Who can bat like him? No actor can recreate that.
You should then associate with with Balaji Telefilms and Ekta Kapoor, who are making a biopic on Azhar
Look what Farhan Akhtar did with Milkha Singh? He looked the part. Running is one thing, playing cricket another. I love Balaji as a production house. But its easier to make a film on one day cricket in Azhars time than re-enact the cricket of the 60s and the 70s era. To capture whats running in my mind is going to be a lifetimes job. But the biopic has to be made, even though its going to be a difficult film to make. And it cant be a Bollywood film. It has to have international faces and most importantly, the hero cant take off for a song-and-dance session in the middle of the game. My dad will kill me. He will rise from the grave and hit me hard on my head with a cricket bat.
You have two projects to start shooting for. One of them is Mr Chaalu. What sort of a title is that?
I dont think it will be called Mr Chaalu, just for the very reason in the way you said it. I mean even if you are Mr Chaalu, it shouldnt be called Mr Chaalu. I should have this conversation with the producer, before the rest of India has it. And well start Suspect X sooner than I thought we would. Were working on the dates.
Phantom is unlike any Saif movie Ive seen.
Phantom is a story about redemption. Its about a guy who gets a shot at getting his respect back. Hes an ex-army guy sent on a pretty suicidal mission to take revene on the five or six major people responsible for the 26/11 terror act. The thing is if they can send their men undercover to kill, why cant we send someone undercover to kill them? Its a lot of fun. Its a great thing that Sajid Nadiadwala and Kabir Khan took me after making the biggest hits in Bollywood. They could have made anything with anyone. This is what Kabir chose to make, and he chose me when he could have had anyone else. And that is the reason I was hard working, well-behaved and extra good on the sets.
You have never been obsessed with building a body. Why?
Well, because it has to be a lot more than obsession. I like to look good. But looking good sometimes is a reflection of good habits, timely food, good exercise and sleep. Im all for it. To be honest with you, if someone tells me you can look good but you can never have a nice dinner and chill, then I dont know if Im up for it. And drugs (steroids) and pills are not cool. I would like to be fitter than I am today, but my life is good for a part, then there are lows, the unhealthy periods, overweight phases and Im rocking again. To keep constantly rocking is a different kind of commitment, which is not me. I cant do that and I dont want to do that.
Would you ever let your daughter, Sara become an actor?
She can do exactly as she desires, but only once she graduates from Columbia University. She sent me a text the other day, I may want to do movies dad. Shes doing drama there among other things. So I told her if she tries that before graduating, Ill have her execute the idea if she pursues it, in true Taliban style
When do Kareena and you plan to have babies?
Ask her that! She is wary of that question. Recently she made me buy The Jungle Book and it got reported that we were buying it for the baby. Its not exactly a kiddie cartoon. Its quite a grown-up book, but someone thought Jungle Book means baby book. You havent read it or what?