Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; December 14, 2017)

With biopics gaining popularity in Bollywood, there has been chatter, over the past two years, about a film on one of India’s most charismatic cricketers — Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. The legend’s son, actor Saif Ali Khan, is part enthusiastic and part wary on the subject. Khan asserts that he is interested in bringing his father’s life to screen, provided he finds an actor who will do justice to it.

“I am keen to produce the film. But we have to find the right guy who can play my father,” he begins, cautioning that it will not be an easy film to make. “There is not much footage available. So whoever plans to make it, will have to do a lot of research.”

Asked if he could be a contender for the role, given his innate style and effortless elegance — a gene that we suspect runs in the family — he dismisses the idea. “I don’t think I am sexy enough. He was a stylish person and played the game with his own style. He carried the right attitude. I don’t think I can copy him.”

Khan reasons that at 47, he won’t be the right choice to play the cricketer, who was a force to reckon with in the ’60s. “Most of my dad’s glorious days on the field were when he was young. So I am not sure if I’d suit the part. Although I’d love to play him, I think we need a young actor.”

Interestingly, Khan’s mother Sharmila Tagore had suggested that Ranbir Kapoor would be a perfect fit for the role of Tiger Pataudi — an idea that was then backed by Khan too. The star reveals that he channeled his father in Pradeep Sarkar’s 2005 hit, Parineeta. “That is one of the reasons why my mother liked Parineeta a lot,” he smiles, before adding, “In fact, my sister [Soha Ali Khan] told me that I looked like Abba in the film.”