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.

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News Network
June 18,2020

New Delhi, Jun 18: Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Thursday paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who were killed in clashes with Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan valley.

The 'Fashion' actor who is currently living in America with her singer husband Nick Jonas took to Twitter to extend support to the families of the fallen soldiers.

"My heart goes out to the soldiers and their families. May God give them the strength to cope with this irreparable loss," she tweeted.

Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in a violent face-off with Chinese troops on Monday at Galwan Valley in Ladakh.

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Agencies
August 4,2020

New York, Aug 4: National Award-winning documentary "Son Rise" and Geetu Mohandas-directed "Moothon" were among the films that took home the big honours at the 20th New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), which switched to a virtual edition this year amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Over 45 feature-length narratives, shorts and documentaries from the Indian subcontinent were showcased at the festival’s virtual edition that ran for 10 days beginning July 24.

The films programmed were in various languages including Assamese, Bengali, Haryanvi, Hindi, English, Ladakhi, Maithili, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali and Tamil.

The award ceremony for the festival was held virtually Sunday, with the filmmakers, cast, award winners and festival officials joining from across India and the US.

The award for the Best Documentary (Short) went to Saurav Vishnu-directed "Tailing Pond", which highlights the "horrifying effects of uranium extraction on the health of the indigenous population" of Jadugoda, Jharkhand.

"Son Rise" by Vibha Bakshi won the award for Best Documentary (Feature).

The documentary had won the National Award for the Best non-feature film in 2019 and was among the two centrepieces hosted by the festival this year. NYIFF called "Son Rise" “a powerful documentary about patriarchy in Haryana and efforts by a few good men to bring meaningful change in the society.”

The award for Best Short (Narrative) went to Sanat Ganu's "Arabian Nights". The narrative focuses on a child, his imaginary friend and a family that attends a conference where the attendees believe the earth is flat.

Director and scriptwriter Sudhanshu Saria accepted the award for Best Screenplay for "Knock Knock Knock". Saria’s screenplay “explores the lonely life of a man, an unlikely friendship that may or may not be real.”

Sanjana Dipu won the award for Best Child Actor for "Moothon" for her performance of a teenager in search of a brother.

Garggi Ananthan won the Best Actress award for her role as Kalyani in the film "Run Kalyani" and the Best Actor award went to Malayalam star Nivin Pauly for "Moothon". The award for the Best Director went to 23-year old Achal Mishra for "Gamak Ghar".

"Moothon" won the award for Best Film and its director Mohandas accepted the award for the film, which is "about love and loss that travels from the quiet, lush beaches of Lakshadweep to the mad hustle-bustle of the streets of Mumbai."

Produced by award-winning Indian film director and writer Anurag Kashyap, "Moothon" had premiered at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

NYIFF festival director Aseem Chhabra said that the process of searching for films for the festival began last fall and they were ready to showcase them to audiences in New York in April but had to change plans for the festival due to the pandemic.

"I know the best way to enjoy films is in a theatre with the audience and have live interactions, conversations. But the virtual festival is the next best option and in the process, we have been able to reach out to a much larger audience in the US, North America as well in several other countries.”

NYIFF said that a virtual edition expanded the reach of the festival and audiences from 95 countries were able to access and view the films.

Dr Nirmal Mattoo, Chairman of the Indo-American Arts Council, co-founder and owner of Atlantic Dialysis Management services, the largest private dialysis provider in New York State, said NYIFF works with an independent jury - filmmakers, film professors, writers and critics.

Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), the leading cultural organisation, presents the festival.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has forced the closure of theatres but we believe that in such trying times arts, including films are even more important for the community’s well-being. So, this year we have decided to bring the films directly into your living rooms.” IAAC Vice-Chairman Rakesh Kaul had said.

The New York Indian Film Festival is the oldest Indian film event in North America. Over the years, the festival has held New York premieres of a wide range of films, many of them critically acclaimed, including "Monsoon Wedding", "The Namesake", "Slumdog Millionaire", "Shahid", "Dum Laga Ke Haisha" and "Gangs of Wasseypur". 

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News Network
March 21,2020

Mar 21: Singer Sonu Nigam has decided to extend his stay in Dubai as he believes travelling amid the coronavirus outbreak can put people around him at risk.

The singer was in the Himalayas earlier and wanted to come to Mumbai for a concert scheduled for March 6 but it got postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

He then decided to head to Dubai to be with his wife and son and has been there since a few weeks.

"I am fortunate that my wife and my son are in Dubai. My son studies here and I keep travelling here a lot, Dubai is like my second base. But my father, sister are alone in India. I wanted to come back to India and be at my father's side but I realised that if I do that, I'll be exposing him to the risk of me carrying this virus, who knows the extent of the danger," Sonu told

The 46-year-old singer said everybody is taking precautions and he wants to ensure that the health of those around him isn't at risk.

"I thought let's not outsmart the virus. I thought it's better for me to stay for a bit (till things go normal). Coming back to India, and then going in quarantine will still be a risk.

"I came to Dubai and I thought I'll be able to go back to India but I didn't know it's going to be such an issue eventually. But we are fine here."

On Friday, singer Kanika Kapoor become the first Bollywood celebrity to test positive for the deadly virus in the country and has said she is under complete quarantine and medical care.

The UP police later booked the singer for negligence and committing acts that are likely to spread disease dangerous to life after she attended at least three gatherings in Lucknow, including a party where political leaders were present.

When asked if his decision of staying back was in anyway related to what happened to Kanika, Sonu said that wasn't the case.

"The last time I was contemplating coming to India was on March 16 night, but thankfully my flight got cancelled. Then from March 17, there was this regulation from the government of India that you have to go on a self quarantine for 14 days, compulsorily. I decided I shouldn't take a chance. Being a potential carrier is the worst thing," he said

In Dubai, the singer said the family is taking extreme precautions.

"We all are being safe, staying indoors, not gathering with many people. Careless people shouldn't be around you at this point, people who are too brash, that 'oh nothing will happen.' I don't allow such people in my vicinity. I'm.very hygiene conscious anyway." said the singer.

Sonu said he will be conducting a live music concert on his social media on Sunday.

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