Saif Ali Khan: I have regrets but not very serious ones

When Saif Ali Khan entered Bollywood in 1993 as a 23-year-old, his claim to fame was being veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and legendary cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s son. It didn’t help matters that his debut film Parampara failed to ignite the screens, despite the presence of Aamir Khan, along with stalwarts Vinod Khanna and Sunil Dutt, and despite being directed by Yash Chopra! To make matters worse, when he tried going solo as a hero in his second release with Umesh Mehra’s Aashik Aawara, the outcome was a disaster. The audience wrote him off as a misfit in Bollywood, who could neither act nor fight nor dance on screen!

The turning point came when he took to comedy, after as many as four releases failed to have any impact for him. His fifth release, the 1994 rom-com Yeh Dillagi, co-starring Akshay Kumar and Kajol, wasn’t exactly a blockbuster, but people noticed his innate sense of timing. A few months later the same year when he reunited with Akshay for the action comedy Main Khiladi Tu Anari, the audience was finally talking of his charming screen presence.

Looking back

Over the years, the National Award-winning actor has impressed beyond comedy and romance, surprising his fans in every imaginable shade with positive as well as negative roles. However, he always seems to reserve a special liking for romance and comedy, right down to his latest release Jawaani Jaaneman. Now at 49, when an emotional Saif looks back at his 27-year journey in filmdom, all he can do is beam with pride.

Asked if he has any regrets in his life, he said: “I am sure I have regrets, but not very serious ones. I think it is okay to have regrets. We all are humans. But it important to learn something from your regrets. Having regrets makes us human. There should be something beyond your ambition. All these things make for a well-coloured life. So, yes I have a bit of regret but it’s nothing serious.” — IANS