Saif Ali Khan's candid confessions about film, love and life
The actor talks about playing a role that is far removed from his real life persona
Saif Ali Khan Photo by Ashok Verma
Saif Ali Khan is all set to experiment with his onscreen
avatar and drop his suave image for a gangster in Tingmanshu Dhulia’s
‘Bullet Raja’.
All ready to perform any good role effortlessly nowadays, the actor reflects on the change and says, “It is true that I would not have been able to do this kind of a role ten years earlier. But today I feel I am ready to do any kind of roles as I have understood my work by now.” Also reflecting on the changes in the industry, he shares, “I have a control over the medium as there are different films being made. Presently our industry is also growing gradually. It is an exciting phase, if anyone would ask me what your investment is until now. I would straight away say join Bollywood. Because when we started it was not like this.”
Talking about how along with an actor, film is also a director’s medium, he shares, and “I wanted to work with Tigmanshu Dhuliya. It becomes very difficult to elaborate what the director actually does? It is definitely their medium. They make you do everything but yet it becomes difficult for us to explain.” And added, “I have noticed working with him that he built up an atmosphere for scenes we have to enact. The function of a scene also involves dialogue delivery. How to say and how to enact the scene? And if all falls in place then the film turns to be good.”
Shedding light on his character, he shares, “My character in ‘Bullet Raja’ is a role of the hero. His way of talking, walking has to be attractive, charming but yet very dangerous and complicated. These tough roles in which we are told not to perform this way or that as it may have a different impact unless we perform the way it is needed to be. You need enough maturity, strength. It can look wrong, the boy can look like a kid.”
On his choice of movies and roles, he says, “While I am sitting at home, I get offers. My secretary informs me so and so director has offered you a character. Sometimes after hearing the narration we this is not so very interesting but then the next narration we find interesting. So, we get ready to do it.”
About performing dance steps he adds, “Let’s make easy steps. The idea is to be able to do your steps gracefully. Some people are amazing dancers but you should look comfortable and happy while dancing and enjoy it the most. It is not essential that you have to dance like Michael Jackson. You have to dance like Govinda, he is an amazing dancer I have worked with him. Indeed we should have simple steps and enjoy dancing. I like working with Ganesh Acharya also. He keeps it so simple and so you enjoy it. Enjoying a dance should show on your face.”
Talking how you have to adapt to your director’s sensibilities and vision, he shares, “All the four directors I am working with look forward differently. Sajid Khan says, “I want you to enact ten times louder with more energy.” While Kabir Khan will ask for something else. Tigmanshu Dhullia has a different mode of preparations. Infact, an actor should be like Ravan with ten heads and perform with different heads and faces differently. Thus satisfying his director in whatever way he desires.”
Sharing his take on action, he shares, “We have to perform our own stunts. As we do not have mind blowing duplicates who can do the stunts for us. We had to do real stunts ourselves and did get injured. South Indian kind of filmmaking has become prevalent. In one box punch, almost ten people fly away. But in “Bullet Raja” we have tried all this in a more real manner. It is an action film but no violence like we remember. The grace of Amitji’s punches which left an undying impression onto our minds.”
All praises for his director, he shares, “Tigmanshu’s every film has a sensibility. ‘Bullet Raja’ shows a ‘bawkwas’ kind of system where police, mafia and all are involved. U.P Politics has been shown on screen in a very interesting manner. It is not inspired by any one politician. The film showcases how while sitting in jail everything is handled through the jail itself on mobile phones.”
About catching on the local dialect for his character, he says, “For me speaking this U.P dialect is not easy. The character of this tongue needs a clean dialogue delivery. It is indeed something out of my comfort zone. This character has a different body language is not like me, I had to work on it. Being a gangster is difficult. Also he has a charm, style and a show off attitude.” And added, “I think I like to perform different as well as this character holding a gun, riding on motor bikes. Hope people will like the film. This is also a commercial film filled with drama as well as thrill.”
About the craving to do better work, he shares, “Things are going well and now is the time to do better work. Films produced under my banner we did not do for money but it is our passion. I mostly crave to be doing good work on par with acting.”
Complaining about Mumbai’s weather, he shares, “Any weather is okay with me. I love living in Mumbai I cannot think of living anywhere else. The energy of the city is amazing, but the weather is horrible and humid. Lucknow is dry and is hot. However working in the heat and the dust, I felt I have done something. I have done all love stories in London and you get spoilt.” And added, “I wanted to shoot in. The intriguing tale has a positive note. The hitman and gangster is shown colorfully. That is India, the film is much more than love story we make.”
“I look forward at credibility and longevity. Look at my mother she was a box office star but she also did a lot of films with Gulzar Saab, Basu Bhattacharya. This has added dimension to her work status. I want to learn from this. I don’t call it a club but you have to be a successful actor. Unquestionably, certain films are made to run at the theatres. When you have everything in a film right from songs and a story. If it does not run at the box office then there is something wrong in the making. You should not limit yourself, stop looking at yourself. Just believe in making good film. ‘Bullet Raja’ will make 100 crore though it does not have a huge budget,” shares Saif.
Talking about his children, he says, “I bond well with my kids. Sara and me are more like friends. With my son I play more sport. Together we play cricket. I have not been able to give time to my mom as well as my kids.”
Sharing his favourite holiday destination, he says, “Yes I love to go to Gaastad. I often go away to this place every year especially during the Christmas season. This place is so beautiful; it is like a fairy tale village. The air is lovely. I shot my first film there for Yash Raj. The Christmas tree on mountain lights is a beautiful scene during the season.”
All ready to perform any good role effortlessly nowadays, the actor reflects on the change and says, “It is true that I would not have been able to do this kind of a role ten years earlier. But today I feel I am ready to do any kind of roles as I have understood my work by now.” Also reflecting on the changes in the industry, he shares, “I have a control over the medium as there are different films being made. Presently our industry is also growing gradually. It is an exciting phase, if anyone would ask me what your investment is until now. I would straight away say join Bollywood. Because when we started it was not like this.”
Talking about how along with an actor, film is also a director’s medium, he shares, and “I wanted to work with Tigmanshu Dhuliya. It becomes very difficult to elaborate what the director actually does? It is definitely their medium. They make you do everything but yet it becomes difficult for us to explain.” And added, “I have noticed working with him that he built up an atmosphere for scenes we have to enact. The function of a scene also involves dialogue delivery. How to say and how to enact the scene? And if all falls in place then the film turns to be good.”
Shedding light on his character, he shares, “My character in ‘Bullet Raja’ is a role of the hero. His way of talking, walking has to be attractive, charming but yet very dangerous and complicated. These tough roles in which we are told not to perform this way or that as it may have a different impact unless we perform the way it is needed to be. You need enough maturity, strength. It can look wrong, the boy can look like a kid.”
On his choice of movies and roles, he says, “While I am sitting at home, I get offers. My secretary informs me so and so director has offered you a character. Sometimes after hearing the narration we this is not so very interesting but then the next narration we find interesting. So, we get ready to do it.”
About performing dance steps he adds, “Let’s make easy steps. The idea is to be able to do your steps gracefully. Some people are amazing dancers but you should look comfortable and happy while dancing and enjoy it the most. It is not essential that you have to dance like Michael Jackson. You have to dance like Govinda, he is an amazing dancer I have worked with him. Indeed we should have simple steps and enjoy dancing. I like working with Ganesh Acharya also. He keeps it so simple and so you enjoy it. Enjoying a dance should show on your face.”
Talking how you have to adapt to your director’s sensibilities and vision, he shares, “All the four directors I am working with look forward differently. Sajid Khan says, “I want you to enact ten times louder with more energy.” While Kabir Khan will ask for something else. Tigmanshu Dhullia has a different mode of preparations. Infact, an actor should be like Ravan with ten heads and perform with different heads and faces differently. Thus satisfying his director in whatever way he desires.”
Sharing his take on action, he shares, “We have to perform our own stunts. As we do not have mind blowing duplicates who can do the stunts for us. We had to do real stunts ourselves and did get injured. South Indian kind of filmmaking has become prevalent. In one box punch, almost ten people fly away. But in “Bullet Raja” we have tried all this in a more real manner. It is an action film but no violence like we remember. The grace of Amitji’s punches which left an undying impression onto our minds.”
All praises for his director, he shares, “Tigmanshu’s every film has a sensibility. ‘Bullet Raja’ shows a ‘bawkwas’ kind of system where police, mafia and all are involved. U.P Politics has been shown on screen in a very interesting manner. It is not inspired by any one politician. The film showcases how while sitting in jail everything is handled through the jail itself on mobile phones.”
About catching on the local dialect for his character, he says, “For me speaking this U.P dialect is not easy. The character of this tongue needs a clean dialogue delivery. It is indeed something out of my comfort zone. This character has a different body language is not like me, I had to work on it. Being a gangster is difficult. Also he has a charm, style and a show off attitude.” And added, “I think I like to perform different as well as this character holding a gun, riding on motor bikes. Hope people will like the film. This is also a commercial film filled with drama as well as thrill.”
About the craving to do better work, he shares, “Things are going well and now is the time to do better work. Films produced under my banner we did not do for money but it is our passion. I mostly crave to be doing good work on par with acting.”
Complaining about Mumbai’s weather, he shares, “Any weather is okay with me. I love living in Mumbai I cannot think of living anywhere else. The energy of the city is amazing, but the weather is horrible and humid. Lucknow is dry and is hot. However working in the heat and the dust, I felt I have done something. I have done all love stories in London and you get spoilt.” And added, “I wanted to shoot in. The intriguing tale has a positive note. The hitman and gangster is shown colorfully. That is India, the film is much more than love story we make.”
“I look forward at credibility and longevity. Look at my mother she was a box office star but she also did a lot of films with Gulzar Saab, Basu Bhattacharya. This has added dimension to her work status. I want to learn from this. I don’t call it a club but you have to be a successful actor. Unquestionably, certain films are made to run at the theatres. When you have everything in a film right from songs and a story. If it does not run at the box office then there is something wrong in the making. You should not limit yourself, stop looking at yourself. Just believe in making good film. ‘Bullet Raja’ will make 100 crore though it does not have a huge budget,” shares Saif.
Talking about his children, he says, “I bond well with my kids. Sara and me are more like friends. With my son I play more sport. Together we play cricket. I have not been able to give time to my mom as well as my kids.”
Sharing his favourite holiday destination, he says, “Yes I love to go to Gaastad. I often go away to this place every year especially during the Christmas season. This place is so beautiful; it is like a fairy tale village. The air is lovely. I shot my first film there for Yash Raj. The Christmas tree on mountain lights is a beautiful scene during the season.”
No comments:
Post a Comment