Seema Sinha (BOMBAY TIMES; April 10, 2014)

He may have exhorted voters to exercise their rights, but it looks like Saif Ali Khan will miss his date with the ballot box this time around. Being contractually bound, the actor will not be able to cancel going for IIFA Awards 2014 in the US, said his spokesperson. Last November, Saif and his co-stars had participated in a voter awareness bike rally — as a lead-up to the Delhi Assembly elections — while promoting his film Bullett Raja. He had also reached out to youngsters, asking them to cast their votes.

 However, the Nawab of Pataudi, along with several others, including Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar, are scheduled to fly to America for IIFA Awards 2014 around the polls.

 A member of the State Assembly had, a couple of days ago, written to the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, seeking action against the actors who are planning to give the elections a miss.

 We texted Saif, asking him about his decision to miss voting this time. He didn’t respond, but his spokesperson said, “Saif is bound by a legal contract, so he won’t be able to cancel his trip. The event dates were decided about six months ago. Well, if the event is rescheduled, Saif will be very happy to stay back and cast his vote.”

 In the meantime, we learnt from another actor who is accompanying the same group, that he signed his contract recently but even he cannot think about breaking away because of the legal implications.