I CAN’T SUDDENLY BECOME ‘PAPA LAUNCHER’, SAYS SAIF

Saif Ali Khan talks about daughter Sara Ali Khan’s debut, also discusses how almost all star kids want to be actors

His last film Chef might not have lived up to expectations, but Saif Ali Khan has a lot to look forward to. In a chat with HT Café, Saif talks about being a ‘content’ actor at 47, daughter Sara Ali Khan who is all set to make her debut on the big screen, and how his youngest, son Taimur, loves the camera.

You have a lot going on in terms of work. Is this an exciting time as an actor?

I’m happy being 47 and have worked for 25 years now. I’ve made some money and I’m comfortable in a lot of departments. But what I need to be happy is to challenge myself creatively and to go to work. Chef was the least challenging because sensibility wise, it almost seemed like it was written for me. Bazaar meanwhile has me playing this Gujarati businessman with a difficult accent. Kaalakandi is a difficult role, and Sacred Games has me playing a sardar and that’s great fun. I’m deeply satisfied because I understand life, and I know it’s a blessing to have a creative job.

Sara is set to make her Bollywood debut. Did you ever think of producing a film for her?

If we had a production that was running, I could have maybe thought about it. I’ve had my own thoughts on production but Dinesh (Vijan, his business partner) and I have gone our separate ways. We (Sara and Saif) are both professionals and I also have own work to do. I can’t suddenly become ‘papa launcher’. I would have loved to, if, we were constantly in touch with production. But maybe it’s for the best that she finds her own way.

Now with Kareena going back to work, how are you and Kareena juggling your time with Taimur?

During the first schedule [of Veere Di Wedding], she took him [to Delhi] and I was happy [to be alone] at home (laughs). I love being by myself but after a couple of days I missed them. But I’m not finicky as a parent. He [Taimur] is part of my life and this is for the long haul. I like my space and I like having them around also. We [Kareena and I] are lucky we have help and we have distraction because, I do think that sometimes having a child can be overwhelming if you don’t have breathing space. Some people have a lower tolerance for claustrophobia and I am one of them. I won’t be happy if I have to be around them all the time. But if I’m doing everything else and I also have my space, I will be around by choice. In the second schedule, Taimur was alone with me and he was looking a little sad. But now he is happy that Kareena is back. Our home also feels balanced as we need her energy around.

What about Ibrahim? Does he also want to become an actor?

Ibrahim [already] thinks he is an actor before Sara because he did Tashan (2008). And he was upset when it didn’t work (laughs). But he is a good-looking guy. All our friends’ children in our peer group want to be an actor because that’s what they see as an attractive profession with respect, money and affluence and a certain amount of privilege. But how many of them are interested in acting, I don’t know. Sara has a degree from the London School of Economics and still wants to be an actor over a banker so obviously, there is something very attractive about this lifestyle.

We [Kareena and I] are lucky we have help and we have distraction because, I do think that sometimes having a child can be overwhelming if you don’t have breathing space. SAIF ALI KHAN, ACTOR

PHOTOS: VIRAL BHAYANI Saif Ali Khan and Sara Ali Khan