Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; February 12, 2020)

Sara Ali Khan will soon be seen in Love Aaj Kal, a franchise, the earlier part of which featured her father Saif Ali Khan. As she teams up with Kartik Aaryan for the Imtiaz Ali-directorial, the actress points out the distinct working style of the filmmaker, her equation with her costar and the relationship she shares with the paparazzi. Read on…

You said that you were extremely nervous at the trailer launch. Was the fact that your father was a part of Love Aaj Kal about a decade ago, one of the reasons why you felt so. Obviously, the expectations would be high...
I don’t think my father has much to do with it. I don’t think this film is a sequel because it is showing what love ‘aaj’ is, which is not the same as love was 11 years ago (when the Saif-starrer released). This is exactly why we haven’t changed the name of the film.

At the trailer launch, I was just nervous because I have been given a lot of love and acceptance from the audience and the media, even before I necessarily deserved it. So, with each film and each Friday, the nerves and the pressure will ascend. I need to keep proving to people and myself that I am worthy of that kind of love.

This is your third film and your first with Imtiaz Ali, who is known for the way he portrays romance in his films. What do you think sets him apart as a director?
Before every scene, directors make you understand exactly what the character is feeling. What Imtiaz sir does is that he actually makes you feel that way. I am not a method actor and I believe in understanding what the character is going through, and then interpret it. He would make me feel like Zoe (my character) on the sets. There were days where I would be crying for the whole day. After pack-up, he would ask me how I was feeling, and I would tell him, ‘low’, and he would appreciate that. I used to find it strange. One day I called my mom (Amrita Singh) and told her that Imtiaz sir was really weird, and she explained to me that there was nothing wrong with him.

How difficult was it to portray Zoe on screen? Could you associate with the character?
Zoe and I share the same internal chord. For us, career is very important. She, too, lives with a single mother, who influences her to a large degree. Other than these two similarities, I think there were only differences. She is a Delhi girl, and gets affected by people, unlike me. She is far more aggressive, whereas, I am more relaxed. I don’t think or approach life like Zoe. I wouldn’t be able to pull off the character without Imtiaz sir’s guidance. He has cleverly showcased her inner conflict, which includes finding a balance between love, life and career. On the set, Sara and Kartik (Aaryan) were not working together, but Zoe and Veer were. As a co-actor, of course, Kartik was helpful, with every take he would do something different, and so one would react differently in every scene. He is also a humble actor, so he doesn’t make you conscious.

You are well-spoken and you generally express your thoughts eloquently. Much like your dad Saif Ali Khan, who is also extremely articulate. In this respect, would you say that he’s had a strong influence on you?
I think what people like about me is that I am candid and have no-filters. It is a combination of the fact that my mother is like that and she has brought me up in that manner. My education plays an important role, too, as it has made me confident and eloquent, and I would like to thank my father because he’s encouraged and funded it. Other than that, I am also scared of faking things. I am a fun-loving person and like to have real conversations. If I pretend to be someone else, then it would not be fun for anybody. And you would see through it, because we are manjha hua Bollywood people. I cannot con you successfully, so why try? I’d rather be myself.

How has your life been when it comes to love…kal and aaj?
I am very moody when it comes to love. There are days when I wake up feeling like a hardcore romantic, and then, there are days where I feel blah about it. I don’t believe in doing things half-heartedly. When I fall in love, people will know about it. As far as love ‘kal’ (in the past) is concerned, I don’t think that it has happened the way that it should have. For me, when love actually happens, it will be truly and madly!

On Karan Johar’s chat show you said that you would like to date Kartik Aaryan. Soon after, you ended up working with him. Also, at some point along the way, there were rumours about the two of you dating…
Koffee With Karan is not a show where you should be quoted for speaking the gospel truth. It is not the place that you go to for proposals or revelations. You go there to make fun statements that will trend. In my case, it did. As far as Kartik is concerned, I think we share great chemistry and camaraderie. He is a giving co-actor. He understands that the better he is, the better I will be, and eventually, the scene and the film will turn out better. In the end, we have the same goals.

You are very cordial with the paparazzi and always make time to click selfies with your fans. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the attention?
This recognition is what you work for, right? So, you cannot shy away from it. This is audience’s love. I see this young girl sitting at her balcony in the building next to my gym, she calls out my name every day. The other day I left the gym, and as per routine, I looked up, and the girl wasn’t there. And I missed that. There are times where I am running late or rushing for a meeting, but it doesn’t matter. I make it a point to bring a smile to the faces of my fans. I am working for it, so what’s the point in not enjoying it..

Your brother Ibrahim doesn’t feel as comfortable with the paps as you do. Does all the media attention bother him?
Ibrahim feels exactly what I felt earlier. He feels that he is being photographed when he hasn’t earned it. I remember feeling the same before Kedarnath released. For a child or a young person, who has not done anything to get this attention, it is disorienting. Ibrahim realises that he is being photographed because he is Saif Ali Khan’s son. He doesn’t want attention like this, just the way I didn’t. I didn’t want to be a star kid getting papped outside a gym. Ibrahim’s reaction comes from a slight sense of displacement. I am sure Taimur will also deal with this when he grows up.