A STAR IS BORN

Saif was born in media glare.  The wedding of his parents had been a major event in the entertainment industry.  The dashing and handsome nawab, who was a star cricketer too, Nawab of Pataudi, and the beautiful bengali actress with an impressive lineage of her own, Sharmila.  Sharmila was related to Rabindranath Tagore and debuted with Satyajit Ray.  She was a top bollywood star when she married Mansoor Ali Khan.

Saif has admitted that his career choice was a toss up between acting and cricket.  Acting won and he made his first appearence in a crowded Parampara in 1993 at the age of 23.  His first movie as a solo hero was Aashiq Awara opposite Mamta Kulkarni. Although he won a best debut award, he did not win hearts instantly.

A GOOD SECOND

His next major film was Yeh Dillagi (1994) co-starring Kajol and Akshay Kumar.  The movie was successful and although Akshay walked off with the heroine, it was Saif who has to undergo a transformation from a spoilt playboy to a serious young man. He danced to the popular number 'Ole ole ole'.  He had a good onscreen chemistry with Kajol.

1994 also brought out Main Khiladi Tu Anari where he paired up with Akshay to create a laugh/action riot. Akshay was a serious police officer on a mission, and Saif is an actor reserching a role who tags along. The movie was a big hit and all its songs were very popular, especially the title song 'main khiladi tu anari'

The next few years were lean for Saif, Imtihaan, Bambai ka Babu, Aarzoo, even Hamesha with Kajol, all had an indifferent run.

MORE BONDING


1999 brought Kachche Dhage.  It was a road movie about two step brothers who are as different as chalk and cheese.  Ajay Devgan was the rustic illegitimate son with a huge chip on his shoulder.  Saif was the urban educated legitimate son looking for money.  They were forced to travel together and unexpectedly start bonding.  The movie was a hit and is still viewed with interest.

This also raised the question, was Saif safe only as a second hero in male bonding roles?

Kya Kehna was a hit, and Priti Zinta got the credit for that. Saif played the playboy who knocks her up and is knocked out of the race to playing papa by Chandrachur Singh.  Although, the spotlight was not on Saif, he put in a good performance as the heartless guy who plays with the emotions of a young girl.

Hum Saath Saath Hain was the follow up to Hum Apke Hain Kaun by the Barjatyas.  A modern Ramayana with Salman playing Laxman and Saif playing Bharat to Mohinish Behl's Ram.  The movie was a big hit, if not too critically acclaimed.  It had the typical Barjatya family bonding charm. A happy family, snake in the Eden, Troubles, Snake banished, Happiness restored.

HEARTS DESIRES
 
In 2001 things looked up for Saif dramatically. First he had a sidey nearly villanous role in Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein.  The movie was a hit among the young crowd with several hit songs. The lead pair in the movie were Madhavan and Diya Mirza.

Second, he had been signed up to play Sameer in Farhan Akhtar's debut film.  The movie pitted him with Aamir Khan and Akshaye Khanna in yet another male bonding saga.  But this time with a huge difference.  This movie traced the growth of friendship between three college graduates through a crucial juncture in their lives.

The movie was pure magic.  Dil Chahta Hai broke the mould and brought unprecedented success to the doors of Saif.  Not only did the movie win commercial and critical success, it showcased Saif's acting talents perfectly.  From then on, Saif has never looked back.

TOMORROW NEVER DIES

Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002) tried to cash in on the humungous success of Hritik Roshan.  Saif was the third angle to the triangle between Hritik, Esha and Saif.  Saif played the good third party who gives up the girl in the end.  But alas, Hritik magic did not bless this film.

Saif had nothing to fear. He had a Karan Johar flick lined up.  Kal Ho Na Ho co-starred Saif with Preity.  Preity is in love with Shahrukh who cannot love her back as he is terminally ill. This rather corny story was hugely enlivened by several magical moments.  First there was a rather unique gay angle to the friendship between Shahrukh and Saif, where Saif's housekeeper is misled into thinking that Saif and Shahrukh are gay.

Saif's character as a happy-go-lucky but a gentlemanly person who is utterly devoted to Preity was well delinated. He got to wear stylish clothes in the movie, which had a great look overall, being set in Manhattan.  The movie was a big hit and Saif walked away with accolades despite the star presence of Shahrukh.

LOC : Kargil came right on the heels of the Kargil war and Saif played the role of Shaheed Anuj Nayyar.

THRILLS AND TOONS

Ek Hasina Thi (2004) was the debut film of Sri Ram and this stylish thriller had Saif in a very well etched negetive role.  The movie is held up as one of the better bollywood movies of recent times and Saif came up trumps with his performance.

Hum Tum was loosely based on When Harry Met Sally, with Rani and Saif meeting each other off and on thru years till they realise that they love each other. Saif starts out by playing a happy go lucky playboy who gradually matures into a person Rani cannot live without. There were several style changes in the movie to suit the age of the characters.  The movie also incorporated a cartoon titled Hum Tum about the love travails of a young couple. The movie smashed the bollywood box office and brought Saif the National Award for Best Actor.

NAWAB OF BOLLYWOOD

The last two movies, Ek Hasina Thi and Hum Tum had Saif in the first lead after a long long time. In Parineeta too, Saif was the hero.  He was Shekhar the rich neighbour that Lolita loves.  He had to play a spoilt, pampered young man who loves Lolita but does not try to understand her. Saif turned in a magnificent performance. His efforts did not go waste as he was ably supported by a luminous Vidya Balan and a solid Sanjay Dutt.  The movie was very well crafted too.

Salaam Namaste was a remake of Nine Months. Saif played,again, a happy go lucky character who falls hard for Preity but cannot bring himself to commit. An unwanted pregnancy changes them both.  The movie was fun filled and a big hit.

Being Cyrus, Homi Adjania's dark story was a surprise. The movie had superlative performances by all of its cast members, Dimple, Naseeruddin Shah, Boman Irani with Saif as the centrepeice.  He plays a scheming young man out to grab fortunes with a twist in the tale.

Saif's name was now synonymous with good acting.  He continued to deliver one magnificent performance after the other.

THE DARK PRINCE

Omkara was Vishal Bhardwaj's take on Othello.  The title role was bagged by Ajay Devgan. Vivek Oberoi was Cassio and the wily Iago was immortalised as Langda Tyagi by Saif. For this role Saif underwent a complete transformation, limping, with a crew cut and a totally deglamourised, shabby look, he stole the movie from under everyone's noses.  Langda is now an iconic character.  Not a role bollywood would forget in a hurry.

BANKABLE STAR

Eklavya (2007) sank.  But no one can fault Saif's performance.

Nehle Pe Dehla was a riotous comedy with Sanjay Dutt.  It was fairly successful.

Ta Ra Rum Pum had Saif and Rani play out a formula one star and a pit-stop babe respectively. The first bollywood movie to have such characters. They marry later, have children, and the story moves on to how to cope with loss and come back with success. The movie was fairly successful.

Up ahead are Tashan, the Kareena Saif starrer that brought the couple together

GOSSSSSIP

Saif was married early on to Amrita Singh who was older than him. There were several rumours of Saif being involved with some of his heroines. But it was hotly denied. Saif and Amrita had a fairly successful marriage and two lovely children.  A couple of years ago their marriage broke up and Saif started dating Rosa Catalino.

Recently Saif admitted to dating Kareena. Kareena broke up with her long term boyfriend Shahid recently.  They got close to each other while filming for Tashan.  If their relationship works out, it will another meeting of two major bollywood families, Kapoor and Khan.

FILMOGRAPHY

•  Mr. Mehta & Mrs. Singh (2007) (in production) (attached) .... Mr. Mehta
•  Tashan (2008) (filming)
•  Roadside Romeo (2008) (filming) (voice)
•  Bhootnath (2007) (filming)
•  Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007) .... Rajveer 'RV' Singh
•  Nehlle Pe Dehlla (2007) .... Jimmy
•  Eklavya (2007) .... Prince Harshwardhan
•  Omkara (2006) .... Ishwar "Langda" Tyagi
•  Being Cyrus (2005) .... Cyrus Mistry/Xerxes
•  Salaam Namaste (2005) .... Nikhil "Nicki" Arora
•  Parineeta (2005) .... Shekhar N. Roy
•  Hum Tum (2004) .... Karan Kapoor
•  Ek Hasina Thi (2004) .... Karan Singh Rathod
•  LOC: Kargil (2003) .... Capt. Anuj Nayyar, 17 JAT
•  Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) .... Rohit Patel
•  Darna Mana Hai (2003) .... Anil Manchandani (Photographer)
•  Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (2002) .... Akshay Kapoor
•  Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001) .... Rajiv Shyamrao ("Sam")
•  Dil Chahta Hai (2001) .... Sameer
•  Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (2001) .... Prakash
•  Yeh Pyaar Hi To Hai (2000)
•  Kya Kehna (2000) .... Rahul Modi
•  Biwi No. 1 (1999) .... Deepak (Special Appearance)
•  Aarzoo (1999) .... Amar
•  Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United (1999) .... Vinod
•  Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan (1999) .... Raju Tarachand/Husna Bano/David Rathod
•  Kachche Dhaage (1999) .... Dhananjay Pandit 'Jai'
•  Humse Badhkar Kaun: The Entertainer (1998) .... Sunny
•  Keemat: They Are Back (1998) .... Ajay
•  Udaan (1997) .... Raja
•  Hamesha (1997) .... Raja/Raju
•  Tu Chor Main Sipahi (1996) .... Raja/King
•  Bambai Ka Babu (1996) .... Vikram (Vicky)
•  Ek Tha Raja (1996) .... Sunny/Sunny Dogra
•  Dil Tera Diwana (1996) .... Ravi Kumar
•  Imtihaan (1995) .... Vicky
•  Surakshaa (1995) .... Amar/Prince Vijay
•  Aao Pyaar Karen (1994) .... Raja
•  Yaar Gaddar (1994) .... Jai Verma
•  Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994) .... Deepak Kumar
•  Yeh Dillagi (1994) .... Vikram 'Vicky' Saigal
•  Parampara (1993) .... Pratap P. Singh
•  Pehchaan (1993)... aka Pehechaan (India: Hindi title: video box title)
•  Aashiq Awara (1993) .... Jimmy/Rakesh Rajpal