‘I’d like to believe I am wiser now’

Saif Ali Khan is currently one of the most-talked-about men in the industry, thanks to his just released film Phantom. Ever since the Kabir Khan film was counting days to hit the theatres, it has been controversy’s child. Leading man Saif, too, has had to hear a lot, even from across the border, but he doesn’t prefer taking things too seriously. Even as we settle down to have a chat on his life on and off-screen right now, he continues to excuse himself time and again to discuss with wife Kareena what is to be prepared for dinner.

Does he like being laidback, we ask. “When I’m not shooting, I prefer to stay home the whole day, in my pajamas, laze in bed with my dog and a glass of wine. I don’t like stepping out, especially when I am in Mumbai. It’s too stressful. I’d rather watch TV all day.” Right now he does have some free time. The frenzy of Phantom promotions is over. So he has enough time in front of the idiot box.

“I am currently hooked to Three’s Company, season 8, and a lot of other shows from the 1970s that I’m rediscovering. And when I am not doing that, I’m either playing the guitar or practicing my French.” He is quite the reader too. “I have just begun reading Anna Karenina, and I’m already on page 780.” Kareena’s name is said to have been derived from that book. “Yes, but I wonder why. They are so different,” says Saif.

Saif’s laidback nature is often reflected in the choice of clothes. He has been a frequent target of the fashion police especially after he turned up at a film premiere in a pair of shorts. He laughs at the mention of it and says, “It’s important to be well dressed these days, everything is photographed. At times when I get bashed too much, I play it safe but on other days I’d rather be myself and step out in shorts or jeans. Like the other day, some website pointed out that my blue velvet suit reminded them of Amitabh Bachchan in some old movie and that my trousers were too high. I admit it wasn’t my best look, but then these days anyone with a website behaves like the editor of Vogue magazine. If they are qualified enough to comment, it’s a different matter”

He has also advised his children to keep a low profile on social networking sites and generally too. “When you are associated with a celebrity, you are unnecessarily in the public eye. I don’t think it’s cool for people to be forming opinions about my kids who are in their teens. So I have advised them to be careful. Once they become actors and are capable of dealing with the attention, it is alright.”

On the work front, Saif’s choices as a producer haven’t really worked for him and the actor is candid enough to admit that the flops have made him rethink his strategies. He says, “Yes, the past year made me think about where I have been going wrong. It has been a bad year but I look at the experience as a step forward. I think I’ve been too impulsive. Now I’m making a conscious effort to not back frivolous stuff. I need to be totally convinced about what I am up for. I would like to believe I am wiser now. I also read 10-15 reviews before I’m satisfied about the fate of a film. I am a bit superstitious too, I’ d rather not talk about films way too early.”

And does wife Kareena have inputs to give when it comes to production? “Yes, she always offers inputs but our take on things, when it comes to work, is different. And it is like that even though we agree on most other things. At the end of the day I got to decide myself and I have been going through a lot of different scripts.”

Among what surely seems like a wise decision is Vishal Bharadwaj’s Rangoon, considering Bharadwaj gave him the iconic character Langda Tyagi in Omkara. Saif agree. “Yes, I believe Vishal always brings out the best in me. Then there is Shahid Kapoor who I think is a fantastic actor, and also Kangana Ranaut, another fabulous performer. I think we would make a great team.

I’ve been mulling over my past work and something like Omkara, Parineeta are the kind of films I really want to do. Of course I’ll continue with rom-coms too but only if they are more substantial.”A lot of his films, including Phantom, have been shot at interesting locations, “If I quit acting, the thing I would miss most is travel. I loved shooting in Beirut but it’s not unlike Mumbai. Just that it has better weather and more of an European culture, lovely mountains and beaches. My parents always referred to Beirut as the Paris of the East. We also shot in Gulmarg and the view from my room was stunning. We have a beautiful country but politics and regionalism messes it up.”

He has even been at the receiving end of the Padma Shri backlash. “I never asked for it, it was given to me and may dad felt it would be an insult to refuse, even though I felt there were more deserving people. I think these controversies are unnecessary,” he says.