Saif Ali Khan: The Bollywood artist formally known as prince

Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan arrived in Dubai this week along with his actress girlfriend Kareena Kapoor to perform at a song and dance night at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in front of 300,000 fans. After more than 15 years in the industry, the 38-year-old actor, who is also of noble birth, is one of the Indian film industry's biggest names today. Often referred to as a 'playboy', Khan's current relationship with Kapoor – whose lineage spans generations of Bollywood stars – has been relentlessly pursued by the media both in India and abroad.

His high-profile divorce with actress Amrita Singh in 2004 after 13 years of marriage was of much focus too. But the actor takes it all on his stride, as was apparent this week when he chatted with the press. Last night, he performed at Jashn (celebration) 2008 along with Kapoor, fellow actor Minnisha Lamba and choreographer Ganesh Hedge. He said events such as these were important to him and that his fans were the only thing he had invested in so far in the UAE.


—So, are you planning to get married anytime soon?

—It is becoming painful to keep saying the same thing but it is fair enough you ask that question. I have always maintained that my intensions are honourable and Kareena is a very traditional girl and we have to plan and do things right and we are looking into this. At the moment we are focusing on our careers. We hardly get a weekend together. But in the future we will get married for sure. As for when, I'm afraid I do not know.

—What do you think about politics, films and Indian and Pakistan fimmakers working together?

—Cinema should be above politics, like cricket and television serials. I do not think there should be boundaries for arts and culture. It is a lot more open these days and our films are being watched more and more in Pakistan so I hope we can work together sometime. While we are concerned with the current crisis, it is our basic duty to entertain people. It may not change the world but it may bring a smile to the faces of a few people.

—What would your dream role be and would you like to be involved in remakes of some of the old classics?

—I do not have a dream role because such roles are part of the classics, which are related to people such as Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. I cannot measure myself to them. I want to make new films.

—How important is it for you to take part in events such as Jashn 2008?

—Live performances like these are part of our profession. We look forward to these shows and to see the audiences enjoy our performance. In our job there are usually three or four categories and they include making films, product endorsements and shows like these. It is how we make money.

—What kind of films would you like to produce?

—I would like to make small budget supernatural films or nice popcorn cinema... actually all kinds of things, something I think that would be tasteful... it could even be classical.

You know a good film when you watch one and you know a bad one and that is what I go by.

— Does your heritage and title as prince conflict with your Bollywood acting career?

—You make me sound like a museum piece. Heritage is the wrong word: if you say family then that would be better. But my mother was an actress and I am the next generation. Is there a clash and does the royal family look down on movies? Does my movie-making clash with my princely duties? No. My princely duties were abolished I think in the forties, before my time.

—Have you invested in Dubai like other Bollywood stars?

—No I have not at the moment but if somebody wants to give me a home I will accept the offer.


PROFILE: Saif Ali Khan, Actor

He is Bollywood royalty, literally. Son of Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi – also a former Indian cricket captain – and Sharmila Tagore, one of India's best loved actresses during the seventies, the 38-year-old is among the most successful actors in Bollywood today.

Although his first major breakthrough came a year after his debut in 1993, it took Saif another five years and more than a dozen films before Dil Chahta Hai released in 2001 and catapulted him to the big league. A string of hit films and awards have followed since, pushing the actor's annual earnings to a reported Rs220 million (Dh21m).

A guitar-slinging rock music fan, the versatile Khan is, after 15 years and more than 40 films, a name to reckon with in one of the biggest film industries inthe world.