Saif wants Dostana with Shahid

The success of Love Aaj Kal hasn’t made chhote Nawab Saif an arrogant man. In fact, he wants to clarify all the rumours surrounding him being offered Kaminey.

Saif isn’t someone who is concerned with being a top star. He is one of the most secure actors we have in town who wants to be known for his performances. About any competition between Love Aaj Kal and Kaminey, he says, ‘My film has already worked. I don't want to sound false, but now I realise that in the past I might have made an irresponsible comment of having been offered a role in Kaminey. But the fact is that I was not.’

He continues, ‘Vishal (Bhardwaj) had just mentioned the film to me. I don't want it to be a personal battle any longer. We are all not friends (him, Vishal and Shahid Kapoor, hero of Kaminey) for obvious reasons but I do think Vishal is a fantastic director. I have only heard good things about Shahid, from others and also from Kareena. He is a strong boy. I have learnt early in life that one cannot benefit from someone else's failure.’

It’s not that the actor turned successful producer has always been secure. He has dealt with bouts of insecurity in the past. ‘When Kunal Kohli or any other director I have worked with didn't repeat me, there was a sense of insecurity. In the 18 years of my career, I have gone through angst. But now it doesn't matter. Like when Siddharth (Anand) opted for Ranbir Kapoor in his next film, I no longer felt bad, probably because I was successful doing my own production. I had the confidence to wish him best,’ he says.

We don’t know if love or the maturity that comes with age is the reason but Saif has become more spiritual. ‘I've become more Buddhist in my approach to my career. I realise that if I am doing well now, it's only a part of the cycle. This is transitory.’

For the handsome 38 year old, his Tiger father is his idol. ‘I want to lead the life my father (Mansoor Ai Khan Pataudi) does. He has been on the top of his game but he knew when to walk away and how much of it to take seriously. I absolutely adore his approach towards life. Not many know that my father has been the strongest influence on me. He is a tiger and it has always been his rules that he lived by.’