Saif Ali Khan (pronounced [ˈsɛːf əˈli ˈxaːn]; born Sajid Ali Khan[2] August 16, 1970) is an Indian actor known for his work in Bollywood films. He is the son of the cricket player and last titular Nawab of Pataudi, Mansoor Ali Khan, and actress Sharmila Tagore, a great-grandnephew of poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Having made his acting debut in 1992 with Yash Chopra's Parampara, Khan had his first success with the 1994 films Main Khiladi Tu Anari and Yeh Dillagi. After going through several years of decline throughout the 1990s, he rose into prominence with his performance in Farhan Akhtar's Dil Chahta Hai (2001), which marked his professional turning point.[3] His work in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor, and he was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Hum Tum (2004).
Khan subsequently had further mainstream success with films like Salaam Namaste (2005) and Race (2008) and starred in critically acclaimed projects such as Parineeta (2005), Being Cyrus and Omkara (2006).[4] In 2009, Khan branched out into film production with his company Illuminati Films' first film Love Aaj Kal, which became a box-office success. These accomplishments have established him as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema.[5] He was awarded the Padma Shri by the government of India in 2010.[6] Khan was married to actress Amrita Singh from 1991 to 2004, having two children together. In 2012, he married actress Kareena Kapoor on Oct 16, 2012 after a five-year relationship.
Saif Ali Khan is of Muslim, Afghan ancestry through the Nawabs of Pataudi lineage from his father's side and of Bengali Tagore ancestry from his mother's side.[9] His paternal grandfather, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, was the Nawab of Pataudi as well as an accomplished cricketer who played for England and then for India as the captain of the team.[9] His paternal grandmother was Sajida Sultan, Begum of Bhopal and his great-uncle was Pakistani general Sher Ali Khan Pataudi. His father was Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, a former captain of the Indian cricket team and the ninth Nawab of Pataudi until the abolition of titles by India in 1971.[9]
Following the death of his father in 2011, Saif Ali Khan was proclaimed
the Nawab of Pataudi by the villagers of Pataudi State in deference to
tradition, although the title carries no official or legal significance.[10]
Khan has two sisters, Saba Ali Khan and actress Soha Ali Khan.[11] Khan's mother is Sharmila Tagore, a film actress and a member of Bengal's Tagore family. She is the head of the Indian film censorship board[12] and the grand-niece of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.[13]
Khan initially studied at the Lawrence School, Sanawar[14] and later attended Lockers Park School in Hertfordshire. He then followed in his father's
footsteps by attending Winchester College, an independent school for boys in the UK. Khan can speak his native languages of Urdu/Hindi and Bengali fluently, as well as English.[15]
Acting career
Early work, until 2000
In 1993, he won the Filmfare Best Male Debut Award for Aashiq Awara. His breakthrough role came in 1994 with Yeh Dillagi opposite Akshay Kumar and Kajol which was his first major hit.[16] Khan went on to star in many films but they failed at the box office. He only had success with multi-starrer hits like Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), Imtihaan (1995),[17] Kachche Dhaage (1999) and Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United (1999).[18] After some box office failures he had a hit with the film Kya Kehna (2000).[19]
Turning point, 2001–03
His acting career, more or less, went through a relative slump until 2001, when he was cast in Farhan Akhtar's National Film Award-winning Dil Chahta Hai, co-starring Aamir Khan and Akshaye Khanna.[20]
Depicting the routine life of affluent Indian youth, it is set in
modern-day urban Mumbai and focuses on a major period of transition in
the lives of three young friends. Despite receiving a positive critical
reception, it was only a moderate box office success in India;[21]
it performed well in the big cities but failed in the rural areas,
which was attributed by critics to the urban-oriented lifestyle depicted
in the movie.[22] He received much acclaim for his role as Sameer with critic Taran Adarsh calling it his career-best performance.[23]
He has since had many box office successes, starting with Nikhil Advani's drama Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), alongside Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta. The film, set in New York, starred Saif as Rohit, Zinta's best friend, who later realises that he loves her.[24] The film was the second top-grossing film of the year, and Khan's performance was praised by critics. He won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award among others.
Solo success and critical acclaim, 2004–08
To date, Khan's films have often featured him as the supporting cast, though following the success of Dil Chahta Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho, producers began signing him on for the main lead.[25] In early 2004, Khan was approached by Sriram Raghavan to star as the globe-trotting bachelor, Karan Singh Rathod, in his directorial debut, Ek Hasina Thi. The film tells the story of a young woman (played by Urmila Matondkar)
who meets with Khan's character, and is subsequently arrested for
having links with the underworld. When Khan was initially offered the
project, he was unable to do it due to his busy schedule.[25] However, when the director approached him several months later, he agreed to do the film.[25] Upon release, the film was critically embraced, with Khan's performing earning praise. The Deccan Herald
reported, "From suave loverboy to self-serving skunk, he (Khan) moves
with such brilliance that he leaves you breathless [...] He holds his
own in a movie that is completely Urmila's."[26] For his performance, Khan received nominations at the Star Screen, Zee Cine and IIFA ceremonies.
He followed it with the leading role in Kunal Kohli's romantic comedy Hum Tum. Featured opposite Rani Mukerji,
the film follows the encounters of the two main characters until they,
after several years and various meetings, become friends and finally
fall in love. The film was received favourably by critics and became one
of the year's most successful films, with a domestic box office of 
210 million (US$3.5 million).[27]
Khan played the role of Karan Kapoor, a young cartoonist and womaniser
whose relationship with Rhea Prakash (played by Mukerji) changes his
perception of women and life. Rediff.com wrote about his performance: "Saif reprises his urbane self from Dil Chahta Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho, peppering it with occasional fits of introspection and angst, and marking himself as an actor whose time has come."[28] He won the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role and was conferred the coveted National Film Award for Best Actor in 2005 among much controversy.[29] It marked the beginning of his work with Yash Raj Films, one of the largest production houses in Bollywood.
210 million (US$3.5 million).[27]
Khan played the role of Karan Kapoor, a young cartoonist and womaniser
whose relationship with Rhea Prakash (played by Mukerji) changes his
perception of women and life. Rediff.com wrote about his performance: "Saif reprises his urbane self from Dil Chahta Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho, peppering it with occasional fits of introspection and angst, and marking himself as an actor whose time has come."[28] He won the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role and was conferred the coveted National Film Award for Best Actor in 2005 among much controversy.[29] It marked the beginning of his work with Yash Raj Films, one of the largest production houses in Bollywood.
In 2005, Khan appeared in two movies. His first release was Pradeep Sarkar's Parineeta (2005), an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's 1914 Bengali novella by the same name.[30] Prior to being cast, the film's producer, Vidhu Vinod Chopra was initially reluctant in casting Khan as the male protagonist because he felt that "I could not manage it".[31] After much deliberation, Chopra was persuaded by Sarkar who felt that Khan was perfect for the role.[32] The film garnered critical acclaim upon release and Khan's portrayal of Shekhar Rai earned him nominations for Best Actor at a number of award ceremonies. Derek Elley from Variety wrote, "Khan, who has gradually been developing away from light comedy, again shows smarts as a substantial actor."[30] His next release was Siddharth Anand's comedy-drama Salaam Namaste opposite Preity Zinta.
Produced by Yash Raj Films, it was the first Indian feature to be
filmed entirely in Australia and went on to become the year's
highest-grossing Bollywood production outside of India, earning 570 million (US$9.6 million) internationally.[33] Khan played the role of the egotistic, laid-back chef, Nikhil Arora. According to Khalid Mohamed, "Salaam Namaste
is unthinkable without Saif Ali Khan. He rescues several untidily
written scenes with his neat wit and that flustered
'how-did-I-get-into-this-soup?' facial expression."[34]
570 million (US$9.6 million) internationally.[33] Khan played the role of the egotistic, laid-back chef, Nikhil Arora. According to Khalid Mohamed, "Salaam Namaste
is unthinkable without Saif Ali Khan. He rescues several untidily
written scenes with his neat wit and that flustered
'how-did-I-get-into-this-soup?' facial expression."[34]
He next played the protagonist in the English language art film, Being Cyrus (2006), co-starring alongside Naseeruddin Shah and Dimple Kapadia. Directed by debutant Homi Adajania, the psychological drama revolves around a dysfunctional Parsi
family with who Khan's character moves into. The film received
predominantly positive reviews, and Khan was particularly praised.[35] Later in the year, he portrayed the character of Iago in Omkara, the Indian adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film is a tragedy of sexual jealousy set against the backdrop of the political system in Uttar Pradesh.[36] The film premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and was also selected for screening at the Cairo International Film Festival.[36][37] Omkara was embraced by critics and Khan went on to receive major acclaim earning the awards for Best Actor in a Negative Role
at the Filmfare, Star Screen, Zee Cine and IIFA ceremonies; his
performance was later included in the 2010 issue of the "Top 80 Iconic
Performances" by Filmfare.[38] Variety
described his performance as "powerhouse" and further wrote, "It is
Khan's movie through and through, in a performance of rugged, contained
malevolence which trades on his previous screen persona as a likable
best friend as well as his stint as the manipulative outsider in Being Cyrus. It is smart casting, superbly realized."[39]
In 2007, Khan collaborated once again with producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra in the epic drama Eklavya: The Royal Guard, alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Boman Irani, Sharmila Tagore and Vidya Balan. Set in the state of Rajasthan
during the early years of Indian independence, the movie revolves
around a jealous and ungrateful ruler who will not let his wife die in
peace because she is uttering the name of Eklavya. Although the film did
not succeed at the box office,[40] it was chosen as India's official entry to the Oscars. The Full Hyderabad
described Khan's performance of Harshwardhan as "sombre and
understated," played with a "brooding and contemplative sensibility."[41] He next appeared in the action comedy Nehlle Pe Dehlla, a production that had been delayed since 2001.[42] The film garnered negative reviews and poor box office returns.[43] Khan's role was small, and was not well received.[43] His final release of the year was the family drama, Ta Ra Rum Pum. Directed by Siddharth Anand, it went on to become an economic success at the box office, earning 646 million (US$11 million) internationally.[33]
646 million (US$11 million) internationally.[33]
Khan received further success in 2008, starring in the Abbas-Mustan thriller Race with an ensemble cast including Anil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif and Sameera Reddy. The feature was loosely adapted from the 1998 American film Goodbye Lover, and became one of the biggest box office hits in India, earning 617 million (US$10 million)[44] and grossed over 200 million (US$3.4 million) abroad.[45] Critic Rajeev Masand from CNN-IBN wrote, "Of the cast, Saif Ali Khan stands out as the chap with the least dialogue but the one who makes the best impression."[46] This was followed by three projects produced by Yash Raj Films: Tashan, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic and Roadside Romeo, all of which were not successful.[44]
617 million (US$10 million)[44] and grossed over 200 million (US$3.4 million) abroad.[45] Critic Rajeev Masand from CNN-IBN wrote, "Of the cast, Saif Ali Khan stands out as the chap with the least dialogue but the one who makes the best impression."[46] This was followed by three projects produced by Yash Raj Films: Tashan, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic and Roadside Romeo, all of which were not successful.[44]
Producer and other works, 2009–present
2009 saw Khan branch out into film producing when he set up his own production company, Illuminati Films, along with Dinesh Vijan.[47] The company's first release was marked by the romantic comedy Love Aaj Kal. Directed by Imtiaz Ali,
the film portrays the feeling of pure love which never changes over
time, although the perspective of realizing one's soulmate has changed.
It received mostly positive reviews by critics and became one of the
highest-grossing films of the year.[48] For his portrayal of Jai Vardhan Singh and the younger Veer Singh, Khan went on to receive several Best Actor nominations at a number of award ceremonies, including Filmfare. A review in The Economic Times described his performance as "refreshing natural" and "outstanding".[49] He then starred in the dramatic thriller Kurbaan, alongside Kareena Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi. Produced by Dharma Productions, the film marked the directorial debut of Rensil D'Silva and featured Khan in the role of a terrorist. Upon release, Kurbaan was received favourably by critics and Khan's performance was critically acclaimed. Critic Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama
wrote: "Saif is extraordinary in a role that only proves his
versatility once again. If he won your heart with a winning performance
in Love Aaj Kal a few months ago, you need to watch this supremely talented actor underplay his part so beautifully in Kurbaan.[50]
In 2011, he appeared in Prakash Jha's multi-starrer drama Aarakshan. Set in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, the film deals with the policy of caste-based reservations in government jobs and educational institutions.[51]
Khan portrayed the character of Deepak Kumar, a rebellious student who
joins the mafia. To prepare for the role, Khan was required to take
acting workshops along with the rest of the cast.[52] Prior to its release, the film was banned from releasing in select cities across India due to its controversial subject.[51] While the film received a mixed critical reaction, his performance was generally well received.[53] The following year, Khan collaborated once again with director Sriram Raghavan, as the protagonist in the action thriller Agent Vinod. The film, which was produced under his own banner, opened to mixed reviews and eventually under-performed at the box office.[54]
By May 2012, Khan completed working on Cocktail, a romantic comedy directed by Homi Adjania.[55] Co-starring alongside Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty.The film became a hit with collecting 92 cr. As at February 2013, Race 2, in which he is the protagonist, was declared a box office semi-hit. It eventually crossed the 100 crore (US$17 million) mark; collecting 104.2 crore (US$18 million).[56]. He recently starred in his fourth home production Go Goa Gone, which is the first zombie horror comedy ever produced in Bollywood.
100 crore (US$17 million) mark; collecting 104.2 crore (US$18 million).[56]. He recently starred in his fourth home production Go Goa Gone, which is the first zombie horror comedy ever produced in Bollywood.Personal life
Khan married actress Amrita Singh in October 1991.[57]
After thirteen years of marriage and two children (daughter Sara Ali
Khan born September 1993, and son Ibrahim Ali Khan born March 2001 [58]), the couple divorced in 2004. The children live with their mother.[59]
He then dated Rosa Catalano, a Swiss model born in Italy, whom he met in Kenya,
for three years. Catalano later revealed that he had not told her about
his earlier marriage and children, and that she learnt about them only
after she came to India.[60] They were later said to be considering marriage,[61] but then broke off.[62][63][64][65]
On February 18, 2007, Khan was hospitalised at Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai due to chest pain while rehearsing for his performance at the Stardust Awards, to be held that night.[66] After hospitalization, he stated he would quit smoking.[67]
Khan had been dating actress Kareena Kapoor since October 2007.[68][69]
In October 2009 he publicly spoke of his relationship with Kapoor and
the prospect of marriage stating, that in his opinion people said that
marriage does not affect one's career but in fact it does and that today
the whole definition of marriage has changed. He said, that he and
Kareena were so well connected, so close that marriage is just a stamp
of validation for the society.[70] Saif and Kareena got married in court on October 16, 2012.
On September 22, 2011 Khan's father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi passed away,[71] which led Saif to formally assume the title of 10th Nawab of Pataudi.[72]
Although the title has no legal or official status after 1971, Saif
assumed the title in order to please the sentiments of the villagers.
The 'pagri' ceremony was attended by the incumbent Chief Minister of Haryana.[72]
Other work
In 2005, along with other Bollywood stars, Khan performed at the HELP! Telethon Concert to help raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.[73]
Khan took part in two major world tours. He was part of a troupe that included Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal and Priyanka Chopra, which went on the Temptations 2004 world tour.[74] Two years later, he toured again, participating and performing in the Heat 2006 concert around the world, along with Akshay Kumar, Preity Zinta, Sushmita Sen and Celina Jaitley.[75]
In 2006, Khan appeared along with various other Bollywood actors at the Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, as part of a performance showcasing Indian culture along with Rani Mukerji, and Aishwarya Rai on behalf of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, held in Delhi.[76]
Controversies
In 1998, Khan was charged with poaching two blackbucks in Kankani during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain along with co-stars Salman Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam.[77]
A lower court charged him with the others under the Wildlife Act and
the IPC. He had filed a revision petition before a sessions court which
discharged him of Section 51 (causing harm to wildlife) of Wildlife Act
and both of 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly of
persons) of the Indian Penal Code. [78]
The Rajasthan state government then filed a revision petition before
the Rajasthan high court which again added Section 149 against him,
which it had dropped. The Jodhpur court has summoned him along with all
the accused for commencement of the trial with the revised charges on
February 4, 2013. [79]
In 2008, Khan was also involved in assaulting a photographer, Pawan Sharma, while filming Love Aaj Kal at Patiala railway station.[80][81]
In 2012, Khan was dining with his friends, including Kareena Kapoor and Amrita Arora,
at the Wasabi restaurant in Taj, Mumbai and making a din and was
repeatedly requested by the restaurant management to be quieter. Khan
then allegedly assaulted the complainants, Iqbal Sharma, a businessman,
who suffered a fractured nose, and an elderly man.[80][82][83][84][85] Khan was arrested under article 325 of the Indian Penal Code, and released on bail on a surety of 3,000 (US$51) by the Mumbai Police. Khan claimed it was an act of self-defence and filed a case leveling counter allegations.[86][87] However, the police refused to register Saif's case since he could not produce any evidence.[88]
3,000 (US$51) by the Mumbai Police. Khan claimed it was an act of self-defence and filed a case leveling counter allegations.[86][87] However, the police refused to register Saif's case since he could not produce any evidence.[88]
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating him in an alleged Hawala
transactions case. The ED suspects that Saif Ali Khan illegally
purchased a high-end car in 2004 through Hawala system allegedly in
violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).[89]
Awards and nominations
Main article: List of Saif Ali Khan's awards and nominations
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Parampara | Pratap Singh | |
| 1993 | Aashiq Awara | Jimmy / Rakesh Rajpal | Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut |
| 1993 | Pehchaan | Karan | |
| 1994 | Imtihaan | Vicky | |
| 1994 | Yeh Dillagi | Vikram "Vicky" Saigal | |
| 1994 | Main Khiladi Tu Anari | Deepak Kumar | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1994 | Yaar Gaddar | Jai Verma | |
| 1994 | Aao Pyaar Karen | Raja | |
| 1995 | Surakshaa | Amar / Prince Vijay | |
| 1996 | Ek Tha Raja | Sunny | |
| 1996 | Bambai Ka Babu | Vikram "Vicky" | |
| 1996 | Tu Chor Main Sipahi | Raja / King | |
| 1996 | Dil Tera Diwana | Ravi Kumar | |
| 1997 | Hamesha | Raja / Raju | |
| 1997 | Udaan | Raja | |
| 1998 | Keemat: They Are Back | Ajay | |
| 1998 | Humse Badhkar Kaun | Sunny | |
| 1999 | Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan | Raju Tarachand | |
| 1999 | Kachche Dhaage | Dhananjay "Jai" Pandit | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1999 | Aarzoo | Amar | |
| 1999 | Biwi No.1 | Deepak | Cameo |
| 1999 | Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United | Vinod | |
| 2000 | Sanam Teri Kasam | Vijay Verma | |
| 2000 | Kya Kehna | Rahul Modi | |
| 2001 | Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega | Prakash | |
| 2001 | Dil Chahta Hai | Sameer | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role |
| 2001 | Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein | Rajiv "Sam" Saamra | |
| 2002 | Na Tum Jaano Na Hum | Akshay | |
| 2003 | Darna Mana Hai | Anil Manchandani | |
| 2003 | Kal Ho Naa Ho | Rohit Patel | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor Filmfare Award for Motorola "Moto Look of the Year" |
| 2003 | LOC Kargil | Capt. Anuj Nayyar | |
| 2004 | Ek Hasina Thi | Karan Singh Rathod | |
| 2004 | Hum Tum | Karan Kapoor | National Film Award for Best Actor Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role |
| 2005 | Parineeta | Shekhar Rai | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor |
| 2005 | Salaam Namaste | Nikhil "Nick" Arora | |
| 2006 | Being Cyrus | Cyrus Mistry | English film |
| 2006 | Omkara | Ishwar "Langda" Tyagi | Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role |
| 2007 | Eklavya: The Royal Guard | Harshwardhan | |
| 2007 | Nehlle Pe Dehlla | Jimmy | |
| 2007 | Ta Ra Rum Pum | Rajveer "RV" Singh | |
| 2007 | Om Shanti Om | Himself | Special appearance in song "Deewangi Deewangi" |
| 2008 | Race | Ranvir "Ronnie" Singh | |
| 2008 | Tashan | Jimmy Cliff | |
| 2008 | Woodstock Villa | Himself | Special appearance |
| 2008 | Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic | Ranbeer Talwar | |
| 2008 | Roadside Romeo | Romeo (voice) | |
| 2009 | Love Aaj Kal | Jai Vardhan Singh / Young Veer Singh |
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor |
| 2009 | Kurbaan | Ehsaan Khan / Khalid | |
| 2011 | Aarakshan | Deepak Kumar | |
| 2012 | Agent Vinod | Agent Vinod | |
| 2012 | Cocktail | Gautam "Gutlu" Kapoor | |
| 2013 | Race 2 | Ranvir "Ronnie" Singh | |
| 2013 | Bombay Talkies | Himself | Special appearance in song "Apna Bombay Talkies" |
| 2013 | Go Goa Gone | Boris | |
| 2013 | Bullet Raja | Bullet | Filming (Releasing on September 6, 2013) |
| 2014 | Happy Ending | Announced | |
| 2014 | Hamshakals | Announced | |
| 2015 | "Cocktail 2" | Announced | |
| 2015 | "Race 3 - The Hero is Back" |
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Love Aaj Kal | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Film |
| 2012 | Agent Vinod | |
| 2012 | Cocktail | |
| 2013 | Go Goa Gone | |
| 2014 | Finding Fanny Fernandes |
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