SAIF TO SELDOM WORK WITH KAREENA

Saif Ali Khan isn't as simple as he looks like. This is evident from the very fact that Chhote Nawab opted to play opposite a young and pretty Deepika Padukone in his home production 'Love Aaj Kal', and not with her ladylove Kareena Kapoor. Besides, it is learnt that he often pushes filmmakers into casting his ladylove Kareena in their movies. It's for nothing that the actor faced flak from co-star Deepika for promoting his girlfriend Bebo during the promotion of 'Love Aaj Kal' though Bebo claims otherwise. Anyway, Saif has now decided to set the record straight.

He only wants to work with his lady 'once in a while'! He explains, "I mean there is so much Saif-Kareena going on even off-screen that no good director will be least interested in casting us." Note it carefully. In the same breath, he justifies casting of Kareena in his next production venture 'Agent Vinod' by stating that this decision rested solely on credentials and his heart had nothing to do with it. Saif has also refuted the report that he would act in 'Race 2' with Kareena Kapoor.

Saif hunts for his childhood sweetheart

If you thought Saif Ali Khan was all a Kareena Kapoor's man, think again. The Chhote Nawab is hunting for his ex-girlfriend. Well he isn't surely searching for the whereabouts his Italian ex-girlfriend Rozza Catalano but for his childhood sweetheart whom he hasn't seen in decades but whose memories he still cherishes.

In his latest blog Saif mentions that he is searching for “the girl I grew up with.” Although he doesn't name the girl claims to have spent his childhood with her but later lost touch. In what could make the script for his next home production Saif remembers bidding her goodbye when he was seven years old never to see her again in his life.


All that our Chhote Nawab has is a Bollywood style torn photograph of the girl wearing the butterfly charm he gave her. Although it has been more than three decades Saif refuses to give up his quest to find her. He says he will meet her as his heart wants it. Well all we can says is Kareena beware Saif was never a one woman's man.

Saif won't mind kissing men

Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan, who has touched a new high after Love Aaj Kal's sucess, would not shy away from playing a gay character.

As per the recent reports, Dostana was first offered to Saif, Abhishek and Aishwarya but Saif refused as he thought that the other two stars' presence might overshadow his performance.

And he maintained that the gay thing didn't scare him off and he won't mind doing a gay kiss scene, if required.

Saif wanted to kiss SRK

Saif Ali Khan was offered Dostana by Karan Johar at the time Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan were being considered. Saifu however declined the offer, ‘I didn't really chicken out - I mean I just thought, I think there was Abhishek and Aishwarya in the movie at the time I was being offered it and I was just wondering if I needed to do that and how I would fit in really and I told Karan that’, he told Rajeev Masand on his talk show, To Catch A Star.

Aish and Abhi hogging the limelight could have been the only reason for his Saifu’s refusal. For everyone knows Saif and Shah Rukh were the ones who bought being gay out of the Bollywood closet. Their camaraderie in Kal Ho Na Ho is legendary and Karan owes the success of Dostana to the two of them literally. He went on to say, ‘The gay thing didn't scare me off. In fact I don't think they (Abhishek and John) actually kiss. I would have.’

Incidentally, SRK too didn’t have a problem snogging in the film if he was offered Dostana, to which Saif added, ‘Yeah I would have kissed Shah Rukh.’SRK has even gone to speak about it earlier, saying he was disappointed how the kiss was shot in the film.

Truthfully, we can’t imagine Saif do a John in Dostana and thank heavens Priyanka replaced Aishwarya. But if Karan wants to recreate the magic of Dostana, Saif and Shah Rukh going at it with each other surely is the hit formula for Dostana 2, what say? Just make sure Bebo is cast in Priyanka's role.

Harleen Kaur is a Brazilian model, Giselle Monteiro

At last the mystery of the mysterious Punjabi girl in Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal who gets royally wooed and won by the Sardar Saif has been solved.

The girl, a Brazilian model named Giselle Monteiro couldn’t speak Hindi or dance to save life. In fact the sequence showing her dancing at her engagement drove the entire unit up the wall. Apparently our Brazilian babe just couldn’t get the steps right.

Says Imtiaz, “We wanted to put her through the paces with Saroj-ji (choreographer Saroj Khan). But it never happened. Sarojji didn’t have the time. For a foreigner to get the Indian adaa right is very tough.

We take for granted those nakhra-jhatka-matka which we’ve seen our sisters perform at weddings. Indian girls have those adaas without being trained. But for a foreigner it is tough. Giselle could’ve done with a but more training than guidance. ”

So who’s this mysterious girl who throughout the making of Love Aaj Kal was referred to by her screen name ‘Harleen’. Even when she became visible in the trailers she remained inaccessible to the public.

Imtiaz Ali finally reveals Harleen’s true identity. “She is actually a Brazilian girl named Giselle Monteiro. Why a Brazilian girl to play an oldfashioned Punjabi girl?

Well, I was auditioning girls from all over the country to play the Punjabi girl opposite the Sikh Saif. I couldn’t find the right girl to play the 1965 ki gali mein rehne wali ladki, purane zamane ki.”

Giselle one day walked into Imtiaz’s office to play another part. “Giselle came to me through dress designer Anaita Shroff. She was to play Jo, Saif ‘s Caucasian girlfriend in the second-half. She wasn’t right for Jo.

But my wife who was there suggested Giselle for Harleen.I turned and looked at Giselle and realized she is Brazil’s Harleen. She didn’t know how to speak Hindi. But she had only two lines to speak, which we dubbed.”

Significantly Giselle understood the old-world values of her small-town character better than a urban Indian actress would have. Says Imtiaz, “The small-town mentality in every part of the world is similar.”

A lot of interest in Giselle is being shown by Bollywood now that Love Aaj Kal is released. Says Imtiaz, “She has been traveling all alone from all over the world from the age of 17. She’s 19 now.

Saif kept grumbling he’d look too old with Giselle. But he pulled it off completely.”

Kareena Missed Saif’s Love Aaj Kal Premier

Love Aaj Kal had a grand premier but Kareena Kapoor gave a miss it what was the most important day in her beau’s life. The reason, well Kareena was too tired to attend the premier and preferred lounging in a spa at Hotel Leela Kempinski in Gurgaon. Saif and Deepika Padukone walked down the red carpet together with Saif having and sizzling Deepika in his arms.

Kareena’s name had always been linked to the movie with Saif admitting to that fact that he wanted Kareena in his first home production. Director Imtiaz Ali was adamant on having Deepika and had it his way. Deepika Padukone wasn’t happy Kareena’s name being talked about more than hers and this led to a cold war between the two.

Kareena Kapoor might have skipped that premier as she did not want to see Deepika playing a character which could have so easily been hers. Or she might not have felt comfortable seeing Saif and Deepika walk hand in hand. Whatever be the reasons Bebo it was the most important day in Saif’s career and fatigue was no excuse to skip the premier!

Tired and Embarrassed, Saif shocks everyone

The recent hectic round of production-related activities and marketing culimating in the painful process of pacifying the Sikh federations about the length of his beard, has taken a toll on Saif Ali Khan.

The actor is exhausted and completely not in the mood for any more events related to the film.

The premiere last night was held in Delhi instead of Mumbai. This would be construed as odd behaviour considering all of Saif and Kareena’s friends together at a Mumbai premiere would have constituted almost the entire industry. And they were just a phonecall away.

Says Saif, “That’s precisely why we decided not to have a premiere in Mumbai. I’d have had to call up everyone personally and ask them to come. It would’ve seemed like asking for a favour. And I don’t want anyone to watch my film out of a sense of generosity.”

The last-minute decision to shift the venue of the premiere to Delhi kept most of Saif’s colleagues out. But it didn’t stop Akshay Kumar from rooting for Love Aaj Kal from London. Akshay prophesied it would be a big hit.

Saif is delighted. “I’m so happy Akshay said that. I wish the industry would show more kindness towards films. When Kareena’s Kambakkt Ishq came there was so much negativity about it. It’s scary.”

It’s this fear of an anticipatory wail that provoked Saif to transfer the premiere venue.

“It wasn’t really a premiere in Delhi. Just a screening for people close to us, ” clarifies Saif. “Only the cast and crew and people connected with the film were there. That’s the way we wanted to keep it.”

But Saif and Kareena’s friends in Mumbai are none too pleased. One of his leading ladies with whom he recently did a racy film says, “What’s the point of a premiere in Delhi when the whole industry is in Mumbai? I’d have definitely gone, for Saif and Imtiaz Ali’s sake. I want to see what they’ve done together.”

But Saif isn’t really bothered. It has been a hectic time for him. “Earlier producers like Ramesh Taurani made me do a lot of publicity for their films. Now I totally followed that model for my own production. And I’m exhausted. When I was younger I found publicity boring.Now I know better.”

The experience of producing a film has helped Saif understand the value of economizing. “I used to waste a lot of money and I’m not proud of it. It’s not about cutting corners. It’s an art to respect money.

I’ve seen my wealthy friends buying the right air tickets, booking the right room at the best possible prices. We did go a tiny bit over-budget in my first production. Next time it won’t happen.”

Big banners want SRK not me: Saif

Can anybody guess the reason why Bollywood's heartthrob Saif Ali Khan floated his own production house? Well it's Shah Rukh Khan! Can't believe? We'll tell you how. In a recent interview Saif candidly said that all the big filmmakers in Bollywood want to cast Shah Rukh Khan and not him. And if he wants to survive in this industry he would have to make films for himself.

The actor-turned producer explained the current state in the film industry. According to Saif, everybody have their own production house and they won't cast anyone except themselves in their films. Even the big filmmakers like Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali approach Shah Rukh first. If he turns them down, their next options are Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan. And when things don't work out with them too, they perhaps may approach him.

However, by setting up his own production house Illuminati Films Pvt Ltd, Saif feels that he can make ample films for himself and can even give himself parts that he's wanted to play since long.

Saif-Kareena on a kissing spree

Can you name the most-kissed couple in Bollywood? No prizes for guessing! Lovebirds Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor are on a kissing spree of late, and that too with other actors.

Yes, Saif-Kareena have kissed 15 times in just two films. Just on the heels of Kareena kissing Akshay Kumar 10 times in their recently released film Kambakkht Ishq, Saif is said to have kissed Deepika Padukone five times in their film Love Aaj Kal which is set for release tomorrow.

Kareena defended her kisses, saying that the script demanded it. Nobody complaint following the good opening the film witnessed. Now, the question is whether Saif's kisses will pull in the crowds to the theatres.

You don't have to wait for too long for the final verdict will be out tomorrow when it hits the theatres.

Blogging? No way, says Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan

Bollywood stars are increasingly using blogs, Twitter and social networking sites to reach out to fans but it`s still a no-no for actor Saif Ali Khan.
"I don`t believe in blogging, but that is a personal opinion," Khan told reporters on Tuesday.

"I don`t believe in too much of a connect with the audience because they should see a fresh character on screen every time."

Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and Shilpa Shetty are among several Bollywood celebrities using the Internet to interact with their fans.

But Saif Ali Khan described social networking sites Facebook and Orkut as a "little dangerous for actors" and said he gets a thousand friendship requests every day via email.

Khan, whose new movie `Love Aaj Kal` opens in cinemas on Friday, was speaking at an event to promote a mobile and internet gaming platform for the film.

"I think constant communication is detrimental," the 38-year-old actor said.

Saif follows in Bebo’s steps!

This may sound too preposterous but don’t be surprised if Saif Ali Khan’s Love Aaj Kal takes as huge an initial as Kareena Kapoor’s Kambakkht Ishq did a few weeks back. The trade is extra upbeat about Saif’s maiden production as there is huge demand for the film. Reveals a trade insider, “Eros, the co-producer of Kambakkht Ishq and Love Aaj Kal, doesn’t need to despair looking at the falling collections of Kambakkht Ishq because their upcoming film Love Aaj Kal just might shake the box-office. The craze for the love story, directed by Imtiaz Ali, is growing with each passing day, thanks to its catchy promos and catchier (read super hit) music by Pritam. By the time the film is released on 31st July, the public will hopefully be in the grip of Love Aaj Kal fever. In the big cities at least, it shouldn’t be a surprise if Saif’s maiden home production, co-starring Deepika Padukone, took a cent percent opening. Yes, yes, Saif is not known to big opening initially, because rarely has any of his solo starrers taken a flying start. But then, there’s a first time for everything. Love Aaj Kal just could be that first solo starrer of Saif to take a bumper opening.

Kareena not wearing Saif's engagement ring

Celebrities just can't hide anything especially if it's a ring, as they are under constant watch. Kareena Kapoor sparked engagement rumours by sporting a colossal solitaire ring in her finger. So, she is marrying boyfriend Saif Ali Khan?

Kareena dismissed the engagement rumours by saying that she is not that crazy to get married when her career is at the peak. She seems to have decided to concentrate on her acting career following the success of her latest film Kambakkht Ishq. She revealed that she would tie the knot after two years.


Well, it looks like Kareena is aware of her film prospect after marriage. Married actresses don't have much to do in Bollywood. Aishwarya Bachchan and Kajol are the only exception – they are able to grab lead heroine roles even after marriage. Unfortunately, these actresses too didn't get into glamorous roles, realising the fact that marriage is associated with morality in India.

Can Saif wait two more years for Kareena? It will take lots of patience considering his age!

Sikhs demand apology from Saif

Saif Ali Khan's Love Aaj Kal is all set to release on July 31. However it seems like the film might have just run into some more trouble with the Sikh community.
The actor plays a Sikh in a part of the movie and the Punjab Cultural and Heritage Board had pointed out certain issues with the film.
The Board's president Charan Singh Sapra had pointed out that the community had a problem with Saif Ali Khan's beard.
Sapra had also suggested that the part where Saif goes to the Gurudwara to woo his girl might be considered as objectionable.
At a meeting held on Saturday in Mumbai, Sapra said that the Board had decided to move to court until Saif apologies to all the members of the Sikh community. Apparently he has also threatened to stop the release of the film.
Not very long ago Saif Ali Khan along with his production team held a special screening of the film for members of the Sikh community where they had raised objections to Saif's trimmed beard and a few scenes set in the Gurudwara.
While the Board is fine if the star does not re-shoot the film, Sapra has demanded an apology from Saif Ali Khan.

Saif Ali Khan robbed in Ahmedabad

Bollywood stare usually rob hearts but it is rarely that they get robbed. In a rare incident Saif Ali Khan and director Imtiaz Ali were robbed of their prized possessions in Ahmedabad. The two were attending a promotional campaign to promote their upcoming movie Love Aaj Kal when they were pick-pocketed amidst a huge crowd gathering.

Saif was robbed of his expensive pair of Dolce & Gabanna glares while Imtiaz Ali lost his wallet that contained his credit cards and driving license. Saif consoled himself by thinking a crazy fan might have taken it to keep as a memento but Imtiaz Ali was worried about losing important documents. Well Saif do you have that crazy fans?

Saif's beard in Love Aaj Kal stirs religious sentiments

The co-producer of the film Dinesh Vijan and director Imtiaz Ali refused to comment on the issue.
Saif Ali Khan's ‘Love Aaj Kal’ has been in news for all the right reasons. The film has a hot onscreen pair of Saif and Deepika, the music of the film is top of the charts and the promos of the film are definitely hinting that Imtiaz Ali has got a winner this time as well. However, the film has hit the troubled waters due to Saif's 'Sardar' look in the film.

Charan Singh Sapra, the President of Punjabi Cultural And Heritage Board has objected on Saif's beard look in the film, reasoning that Sardars do not sport a trimmed beard (as carried by Saif Ali Khan in the film). Sapra has also sent a memorandum to Saif Ali Khan, Imtiaz Ali and Dinesh Vijan regarding the same. Not just that, he also added that if the said look was not corrected, then, they (members of the Punjabi Cultural And Heritage Board) will be writing to all the major Sikh organizations to protest and stall the release of the film all over the country.

Saif takes revenge on Kareena

It is common knowledge that Kareena Kapoor has ten kissing scenes with Akshay Kumar in the recently released Kambakkht Ishq. Her kisses have paid rich dividend as the film has turned a hit. But her boyfriend Saif Ali Khan seems to be not very happy with her. He is set to take revenge by kissing Deepika Padukone.

Of course, Saif has to settle for just a few kisses. He is kissing Deepika just five times whereas Kareena kissed Akshay 10 times. Saif's hot lip locks with Deepika are said to be amongst the highlights of their film Love Aaj Kal. He is happy because the censor board has cleared it.


It looks like Saif kissed Deepika in Love Aaj Kal to drive home the point that he too can kiss his co-stars like Kareena. Interestingly, Saif has justified his kiss with Deepika just like Kareena - the script demanded it.

Apart from the kisses, Saif's Love Aaj Kal is in the news for another reason. It is said that Punjabi Cultural and Heritage Board, a Sikh organisation, has sent a memorandum to Saif for presenting Sardar look in an improper way. Charan Singh Sapra, the president of the organization, said that Saif has gone against their religious tenets by trimming his beard too much in the film.

Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan, who is also getting into film production with Love Aaj Kal, is all set to release it on 31st July. Imtiaz Ali is the director of this much-hyped film.

Deepika lets Saif kiss her 5 times

Bollywood has come of ages. Today, it looks like a film without a kiss sequence is incomplete. The much-hyped film Love Aaj Kal too has ample kissing scenes. Now, sources close to the film has let the cat out of the bag. Saif Ali Khan is said to have kissed Deepika Padukone 5 times in the film.

Love Aaj Kal has passed the first test with the censor board issuing it an U/A certificate without any cut. Surprisingly, the hot kisses involving Saif and Deepika didn't invite the wrath of the moral police.

Watch out for this film directed by Imtiaz Ali. It is all set for release on 31st July.

Jehad has changed the way I look at Islam: Saif

Born and brought up in a non-conservative westernized atmosphere Saif Ali Khan says he has gone through a life- changing experience while working in Rensil d’Silva’s film where the actor gets out of the Saif zone to play an Ismalic fundamentalist.

“The role has not only made me more politically aware it has also made me more religious. I knew a lot of things about Islam. But I was always more spiritual than religious.Working in Rensil’s film has made me know more about the religion.

I did a lot of reading on Islam during this film. I was always more spiritual than religious. I always believed in the Higher Power. The one most decisive thing that I learnt had to do with Allah. We tend to presume that to be the Muslim God.

But Allah is the Arab word for the Same God, or the One True God. That, I thought, was a wonderful thing to learn while doing this character. All religions believe in the oneness of God. So what’s all the fighting about?

Whether it’s Christianity, Islam or Judaism, many of the religions have fought a holy war at one time or another. It’s been a part of religious history.”

Saif admits doing the character in Rensil’s film has changed his perception to life and religion. “It’s the most politically relevant character I’ve played. Though my Langda Tyagi in Omkara was a political creature his politics was subverted.

In Rensil’s film I play the Jehadi as a very real and suave gentleman, dressed in very dapper clothes like a college professor, and hence more frightening

As frank as ever Saif says, “Yes I play an Islamic fundamentalist while Vivek Oberoi plays the more moderate Muslim.”

Irrfan Khan says being a Muslim he’d never play a terrorist. In fact he turned down Vivek’s role in Rensil’s film.

“Did he?” drawls Saif quizzically from New York. “To me the whole point of being an actor is to become characters I can’t be in real life. My character in Rensil’s film is redeemed at the end.

But even if he wasn’t I’d still say yes to a role that explores my emotions that lie too deep for fears and tears. My character in Rensil’s film has become the way he has because of the way Americans have treated Afghanistan and other Islamic states.”

26/11, says Saif, has not affected the way he looks at his character in Rensil’s film. “I don’t think 26/11 or earlier 9/11 are Islamic acts. No matter what people say I don’t think any terrorist is a Muslim. Let’s make that distinction very clear. Of course the population of Afghanistan may disagree with me. But I condemn 26/11 as a deed done by non-Muslims.”

Putting an end to the title dispute for Rensil d’Silva’s film once and for all Saif says, “This film has to be called Jehad. There’s no other title for it. But I don’t think our producer has the title yet.”

Saif blasts director wanting to expose Kareena

Saif Ali Khan has lashed out at a director who wants to expose his lady love Kareena Kapoor. This after there was news that Spectra Multimedia Films is producing a film tentatively titled The Secret Life of Karina based on the Kareena's breakup with Shahid and subsequent hookup with Saif Ali Khan. The characters in the movie were rumoured to be named Karina, Saifee and Shaheed.

Saif said it tasteless thing to do was very offensive for Kareena trying to get excitement and publicity based on her life. On a lighter note Saif said he was a little upset that his character was called Saifee as he could have had a cooler name. Surprisingly Kareena's we beau Shahid Kapoor hasn't opened his mouth on the issue so far.

Saif into hard-core partying in Kareena's absence

In Bollywood a producer is always portrayed as an uncle scrooge who is holding onto every penny by his teeth, but the director of Love Aaj Kal begs to differ. Imtiaz Ali is one happy director as he has all the good things to say about his peppy producer - Saif Ali Khan.

Raving about getting the much needed creative freedom in making Love Aaj Kal, Imtiaz notes, “Although Saif has reinvented his career as a producer with this film, he has never ever intervened in the making.”


As a matter of fact Saif did not intimidate the cast by throwing-off his weight as a producer; instead he tried to break the ice between the cast and crew, and even made the shy and reclusive Imtiaz comfy on the sets.

Wonder how Saif achieved the great rapport on sets? Simple, by doing what he knows best-Hard-core Partying. Saif worked hard and partied harder with his crew

We hear the party went hand-in-hand with the shoot; the film has been shot at 3 different locations - San Fransisco, London and India. And those are the exact places Saif took his party to after wrapping up the shoot, the crew would go in for night long hard-core partying. Of course without Kareena Kapoor since she is not in the film.

Imtiaz excitedly confirms, “We would party all night and crash to bed the next morning and go off to sleep before flying off for a different location.”