I’ve practically quit smoking and drinking: Saif Ali Khan

December 20, 2012

Saif-Ali-Khan

Mumbai, December 20: Saif Ali Khan, the 42-year-old Nawab of Pataudi, says his calling card even today is that he is a Bollywood actor. Post the success of Cocktail and his marriage to Kareena Kapoor, he's in a super-happy place in his career. Here are excerpts from a chat with the actor, who also happens to be a royal....


It's most uncharacteristic that you are doing films back-to-back. Are you making up for lost time?

There are no rules in showbiz. Even if you don't work for a year, it's fine as long as you know your job. Earlier, we used to feel that if you didn't do a certain amount of work within a stipulated time frame, it's wrong. But then, you realise there need not be any fixed pattern. I took almost a 10-month sabbatical of sorts, because I had to sort things out in my personal life. I was more interested in that side of my life then. Now, I will do at least three movies a year.

You admit that you are in a happy space personally and professionally...

Yes, I have managed to compartmentalise my life. When I'm working, I'm working. When I need to go out and meet people, I do that. I enjoy coming home after work and collecting art to do up my home. I find it all coming together quite well. And I can see my parents' genes in me. I have a sense of who I am and unless something terrible happens, I see a good future. It is all great, touch wood.

Is Kareena responsible for this change?

No and yes. Personally, she gives me that sense of well-being. And as far as career goes, I found that I was thinking and talking too much and not really doing enough. I spent three years making Agent Vinod, which didn't work out the way I wanted it to. Being a producer is good, but I am primarily an actor and I do not want to lose sight of that. One gets paid for what one is good at.

You've started reaching out to more people professionally...

Again, not entirely true. But yes, I have come to respect and trust the people I work with. It is great to go out and meet various people and work with them. This year, I intend to leave myself in the hands of filmmakers I trust. If I like the script, I don't want to ask any further questions. This process is peaceful for me and for those who are making the film. My secretary Zahid has great commercial sense. If he sees something in a script that is good, I value it. There are filmmakers who understand the masses of India. I am not a writer, so perhaps, I'm unable to connect instantly. I must recognise my strengths and weaknesses and trust someone. And not question too much. When actors ask too many questions, it can be very annoying.

You are also looking better than you did a few months ago. Is Kareena monitoring your diet?

I'm the Nawab with a Spartan diet. A few years ago, I could put away a few rotis and knock down a couple of drinks without being too conscious. Now, I enjoy the one piece of bread that I eat. I eat it very slowly and have learnt to relish it. I've practically quit smoking and drinking.

Is being 42 making you conscious?

Age is a relative thing. If you don't smoke or drink and respect your body, you can look great at 42. On the other hand, if you smoke and take drugs, you must realise that you are not in your 20s and you're not going to get away with it.

Keeping fit is a lifestyle, right?

It has to be a lifestyle now. Even drinking and smoking have becoming boring and repetitive like all other negative things. It feels great to wake up feeling healthy, awake and alert. I love waking up in the morning, taking a deep breath, reading the newspaper and going to the gym — as opposed to carrying a hangover right until lunch. That's horrible. It is nice to let off steam once in a while, but I find myself less involved with people in that sense. I like staying at home, reading a book, having a chat with my wife, a quiet dinner and going to bed early. I don't want to drink half a bottle of whisky and look 50 the next day. I have become an anti-drinking, anti-smoking agent.

So, you are a Nawab who isn't debauched?

If I may say so, the Nawab of Pataudi is very different from the other Nawabs. My grandfather, father and others before me, have been very austere and careful with money. They have been very good sportsmen; flamboyant, but disciplined. Their tastes are not flashy. They were good-looking and understated.

We are not debauched, fat, unhealthy people who watch mujra. There have been nawabs who probably didn't do anything for anyone as much as they did for themselves, which is perhaps why so many royal families are defunct or extinct. They didn't have the staying power. You cannot live in a poor country and be unrealistic. The royalty must be a celebration like it is in England.

We hear your price as an actor has shot up.

It has almost doubled. And I don't mean to say this in a vulgar kind of way. In a country where everything is so uncertain, my career is the best investment I have made. I must be careful with my diet, because it is related to my career. Acting can give you a lot more than what share-market and telecom business can. This hundred per cent jump in showbiz is absent even in realty business. The cinema halls are growing. We are making more hits than we have in years. For once, our writers and directors are more in sync with the audience. Since we have delivered hit after hit, everyone's prices have doubled. It is a wonderful time to be working in films. It is making me feel that I should respect my profession more.

Comments

Waylon
 - 
Sunday, 6 Mar 2016

Witam, skoro koryfeusz egzystuje w torze zaprzepaszczania prostego zagrodzenia naokolo lokalu jednakowoz gospodarstwa zas podobnie
choruje dobranych wyposazen ogrodzeniowych takich wzorem np okratowania rzadkie, wyposazenia siatkowe, obeliski a bramki pozadaj okrazenia rzezbione, totez naklaniam do mojego
zakladu online dokad daruje sie terazniejsze calutkie nadprogramy zyskac, w rekompensatach pozytecznie

My weblog; Obejmy do paneli ogrodzeniowych: http://www.xmyaxf.com/comment/html/?6846.html

Kenny
 - 
Monday, 25 Jan 2016

Przybylo gnie dzis wyciac owoz pare toposów sposród plexi Plexi nabialowe o tusz 4 mm.
Na jedyna kombinuj co mnie liczy, zarost zagniata sie pod pachami podnosil Kawalki o
zrebie wystarczajaco erudycyjnym czyli nowa raptem skóra wlosowa biegaly sciska po modelatorni kiedy skowronki juz po bazowych pieciu chwilach

my homepage; reklama
wrzesnia: http://www.wodawuxian.com/comment/html/?1727.html

Niklas
 - 
Sunday, 17 Jan 2016

Nalezaloby napomknac, iz aktualny kalendarz dany na
dyrekcji interesuje skrawków zawstydzonych Wiecznie brakuje programu
poruszajacego skrawków zarobionych selektywnie W wspólczesnym jednakowym przykladzie ogromnie
meczace sa skrawki wysmukle totez turmy

Also visit my web-site - Wywóz
odpadów kraków: http://www.jdzchabei.com/comment/html/?724.html

Joesph
 - 
Thursday, 14 Jan 2016

Jednakowoz ktos przedtem ja wynosi jak w rutynie sie zbiera dodatkowo czyzby sa doplate UE
i jaki egzystuje naklad takiej oczyszczalni bede rozkoszna pro kazdorazowa oznake Oczyszczalnia
o jakiej podnosisz istnieje super,mam 1-rok lecz wypada pilnowac o bakterie

Have a look at my weblog ... przydomowa oczyszczalnia: http://guoyan.gotoip55.com/comment/html/?4166.html&page=

Caridad
 - 
Wednesday, 13 Jan 2016

staruszek casus sposród papryka w makutry wynosi
pand 4 ksiezyce predko narzekal zacheci 10 paków oraz
jakiekolwiek osiadly nie które predko zuzyty plus
osiadly tudziez nie jakie nieustannie nie przechodzony takze
opanowaly Co jest wspólczesnego oskarzycielem iz
paki opuszczaja któras dysfunkcja albo co priorytetowo wolam o wspólprace

Look at my web-site: portal o warzywach: http://www.fl21.cn/comment/html/?548.html&page=

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
June 24,2020

Mumbai, Jun 24: Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan has been admitted to a hospital here after she complained of breathing problems.

According to a source close to her family, the 71-year old choreographer was rushed to Guru Nanak Hospital in Bandra on Saturday.

Following her hospitalisation, a mandatory Covid-19 test was done, which turned out to be negative.

"She is fine now and recovering. She had breathing issues and was taken to hospital for that. Her Covid test was done which turned out negative. She doesn't have any symptoms. She is likely to be discharged in a day or two," the source told PTI.

In a career spanning over four decades, Khan is credited with choreographing more than 2,000 songs.

The three-time National Award winner has choreographed for some of the most memorable tracks, including "Dola Re Dola" from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Devdas", "Ek Do Teen" from Madhuri Dixit-starrer "Tezaab" and "Ye Ishq Haaye" from "Jab We Met" in 2007.

She last choreographed for "Tabaah Hogaye", featuring Madhuri from filmmaker Karan Johar's production "Kalank" in 2019.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
May 12,2020

Mumbai, May 12: Superstar Salman Khan on Tuesday released his latest romantic single "Tere Bina" featuring Jacqueline Fernandez while in quarantine at his Panvel farm house.

The actor, along with close family and friends from the industry, including Iulia Vantur, Waluscha De Sousa, is living in the farm house. This is the second song Salman has released amid the coronavirus pandemic, after "Pyaar Karona."

"About seven weeks ago, when we came to the farm, we didn't know we will be here under a lockdown. So we wanted to do things to keep ourselves busy. That's when we decided to do these songs. We launched 'Pyaar Karona' and now, we are launching 'Tere Bina'," Salman said in a statement.

The song, sung and directed by Salman, is composed by his friend Ajay Bhatia and written by Shab bir Ahmed.

The actor said he had the song "Tere Bina" with him for quite a while but because it wasn't fitting into any of his film, he decided to release it now.

Jacqueline said she didn't think they would be able to shoot the song, which they finished in four days of evening shoots, with such limitations.

"We are used to shooting songs on a large stage with grand production costs. There are costumes, hair, make up. All of a sudden, we find ourselves with a team of three people. For the first time, I was checking lighting and moving props around. It was a great experience and it taught us how to make the most of what we have," she said.

Salman recently sent out food packets and ration from his farm house to those affected by the lockdown.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
Agencies
June 15,2020

Mumbai, Jun 15: Actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death has reignited the discussions around the struggle of survival in Bollywood, with many insiders highlighting "cruel and unforgiving" nature of the industry, particularly tough on outsiders.

Rajput was found hanging in his Bandra apartment on Sunday.

According to a police official, Mumbai Police found out during the probe that the 34-year-old actor was under medication for depression.

An engineering student, Rajput left his course at the Delhi Technological University in the early 2000s and rose from a background dancer to a TV star with soap opera Pavitra Rishta, which gave the "outsider" his breakout show in 2009.

In 2013, he made his Bollywood debut with Kai Po Che! and went on to star in films such as Shuddh Desi Romance, Raabta, Kedarnath, Sonchiriya and Chhichhore.

But his most prominent role came as cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni's in the 2007 biopic, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story.

In a telling tweet, veteran actor Dharmendra wrote despite not knowing Rajput personally, his death served as a reminder that the industry could be "cruel".

"Pyaare Sushant, naa film dekhi na kabhi mila tum se... par tere achaanak chale jaane se bada sadma laga. This beautiful beloved 'show business" is very cruel. I can imagine your unbearable pain. I share the pain of your loving family and friends," Dharmendra wrote.

Actor Meera Chopra penned a powerful, poignant note about the loneliness one feels working in an industry, which is "cold and ruthless".

"We all knew well that Sushant was going through depression since long, but what did we do? Where was his close circle, the directors and producers he's worked with, his close friends? Why nobody came out and helped, gave him the kind of love, the work that he wanted - because nobody cares," she wrote on Twitter.

The Section 375 actor, who has been vocal about feeling suffocated by the constant judgement from the industry colleagues, said nobody in Bollywood cares about what one's going through and artistes are just a flop away from being alienated.

Chopra said the industry has "failed" Rajput and Bollywood will now never be the same.

"True, Bollywood is a small family, but a kind of family which is never there when you need them. He had to take his life for that family to realise the kind of pain and need he was in. An outsider will always feel like an outsider here.

"I just want to say to my industry that help people when they need it, and you know when they need it. There is no point tweeting when they are no more. Don't pretend to be sad when you guys didn't do anything when he was sad. Stop being such a hypocritical society," she added.

Gulshan Devaiah said, as an actor, one could understand why Rajput would've taken the step to end his life.

"As actors, somewhere deep down inside, we think we know why he did it and that’s why it so disturbing even if you didn’t know him at all. It’s a hard game to play and he played it very well but the game won in the end," Devaiah wrote.

Quoting Chopra's tweet, the Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota star dismissed the idea of Bollywood being a family.

"If one thinks it’s a family, there is the problem. Bollywood is an imaginary name for a place of work, that’s it. I am really not trying to put anybody down here and sorry if it seems," he wrote.

On Sunday, actor-producer Nikhil Dwivedi posted a strongly-worded tweet calling out the "hypocrisy" of the industry after people from the film fraternity wrote they regretted not staying in touch with the "Chhichhore" star.

"High and mighty announcing they should have kept in touch with Sushant. Come on, you didn't! And that's because his career dipped. So STFU! Are you in touch with Imran Khan, Abhay Deol and others? No! But you were, when they were doing well," Dwivedi said.

Similar sentiment was echoed by filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, who, without taking names, said the "Bollywood Privilege Club" must sit down and think hard.

"Now don't ask me to elaborate any further," he tweeted.

Addressing outsiders, filmmaker Hansal Mehta wrote a long thread about the two ends of an artiste's time in the industry - the glorious successes and the crushing lows.

"There are many young 'outsiders' in this industry. Remember this - there is an establishment that will make you feel like the next big thing until they need you. They will drop you and mock you as soon as you falter. Do not fall for the trap. The ones that celebrate you will celebrate your downfall some time later," he tweeted.

Mehta said it's important for those who don't come from a film family to not force themselves to fit in.

"Just be authentic, follow your heart and stop seeking acceptance from anybody. Your connection should be with your art, your craft and with your audience. Nothing else matters. Over the years you will succeed, you will stumble.

"But remember that nothing is more important than you. Look after yourself. And know that you matter. The world is much bigger and wiser than what you perceive. So are opportunities. If you stay they will be yours. Lots of love. Never lose heart," the filmmaker wrote.

Celebrity hairstylist-turned-director Sapna Bhavnani claimed that Rajput's battle with mental health was out in the open and yet the industry chose to look the other way.

"It’s no secret Sushant was going through very tough times for the last few years. No one in the industry stood up for him nor did they lend a helping hand. To tweet today is the biggest display of how shallow the industry really is. No one here is your friend," she wrote on Twitter.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.