Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; January 29, 2020)

In less than a month’s time, Saif Ali Khan gives us two dramatically different characters to dig into. He impressed as the lethal Udaybhan in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, and now, with the upcoming romcom Jawaani Jaaneman, he’s all set to bring out his swag and sass, once again. In his true-blue, innate style. The actor is in a good zone — from playing a Naga sadhu with dreadlocks, to a deadly warrior to the 40-year-old uber-cool dude who likes his women and wine — he’s experimenting like never before. All this, while he’s sitting back and quietly enjoying the other good things in life. Excerpts from a conversation...

From the menacing Udhaybhan in Tanhaji…, to this urban, cool guy sprawled on the bed with two ladies (as seen in the film’s poster), that is a drastic change. When you are doing a character like this one, as compared to Udaybhan, there must be a huge mind shift, especially when the romcom character seems more relatable…
I am trying to think what the difference is, I think with the costume and the vibe, you go into a different mental space in a film like Tanhaji... Yes, a film like Jawaani... is more relatable, closer to my personality. It is also extreme, and honestly, I wouldn’t be able to live like this character. There is no such prep for a film like this one, the mental space and energy is familiar to me. In Jawaani..., we have this guy who is supposed to have grown up from all the romcoms, but hasn’t. The difference here is that he has a daughter (played Alaya F), which changes the dynamics of the story. For roles like this, you can’t prep much, you need spontaneity. Films is a director’s medium, but some films more than the other. Some films are more theatrical, but in a film like this, the director (Nitin Kakkar) has to tell us what to do, that too, on set. You need to know your lines, and then let the small moments unfold on set that will eventually create magic.

You’ve always been a perfect fit for films that needed, what we call, the sophisticated metrosexual man (Hum Tum, Salaam Namaste, Ta Ra Rum Pum, Love Aaj Kal, Cocktail), but in the last few years, one has seen you do several experimental roles. Like playing a Naga sadhu with dreadlocks in Laal Kaptaan (2019),which was an “out-there” kind of character. Then, of course the web series and recently, Tanhaji... As an actor, do you pick the kind of content that you want to watch?
For Laal Kaptaan, I had some minor disagreements with the treatment, as I thought it should have been a superhero kind of movie and there are certain things that could have been more commercial about it. The treatment of the action should have been different, maybe like Tanhaji... I guess, some directors feel the importance of that, and some do not. Yes, I would like to see a film like Laal Kaptaan and something like Jawaani Janemaan, too. It’s a great relief to come back to this (Jawaani…) space, it is a good, fun and light zone. It is also age-appropriate. The soul of the romcoms I have done in the past is of a young guy who is confused about whether he should commit or not, marry or not... mostly figuring out some first-world issues. It is not earth-shattering, and after a while, it can seem a bit frivolous, but in this story, with the daughter coming in, it pitches it in another emotional space. That’s what drew me to it.

Most of the people you work with, the directors especially, say that you push the envelope and take risks that others would be wary of. Does the fact that you don’t conform to a certain image trapping, or that you view stardom differently, give you more room and free space to experiment?
When I talk to other actors, I realise that we are all victims of the bracket that we have been put into. There is a certain framework we can’t operate out of, only that some of our brackets are wider than the others. My choices are driven by what I have been exposed to, the way I see my profession and art, rather than the notion of what can take my stardom forward. For instance, maybe, what I want is to have this conversation with you as an expression of my success, and to be able to have a chat about what this is all about. So, it is about the way I view things as an actor. Of course, films need to work at the box office and people should make money. It is important that your film is budgeted sensibly, and works well, commercially. Beyond that, my idea of entertainment is something that you want to enjoy yourself, it’s not too indulgent and it’s pretty mainstream.

A lot of actors and filmmakers are aware of their audience, in the sense that they know that ‘this is my audience’. Or ‘I make films for this audience’. Have you thought about this?
I would like to think that ‘this is my audience’, but I don’t know what that is. There are some people I speak to, like yourself, and I feel this is my kind of conversation and I know how to speak to this person. There are some people I don’t know how to speak to. Likewise, with movies, there are all kinds of audience and I don’t exactly know who my audience is. I know that whenever I am offered a movie by a producer or director, if I like it, I will take it on, and maybe, in the process create a new audience (if that happens).

Generally, do you get deeply affected by the failure of any of your movies? And, does it stop you from doing the kind of roles you want to, the risky ones, too?
There are different levels of belief. You feel disappointed when a film like Laal Kaptaan does not work because you have worked really hard on it. So, I was not heartbroken, but yes, I was sad. You are heartbroken when you believe that a film will really run, and eventually, that does not happen. Then, it means that you have got everything, including your judgement, wrong. A film like Laal Kaptaan is something you are hoping people will like, as you know that it is in a different zone. If you get it right, then great. If you don’t, then you have to tell yourself that it was a good attempt and move on. I read that when Al Pacino made Scarface (1983), and it didn’t run, he wanted to quit the movies. He thought that his judgement went wrong with what he believed was great. So, that would be heartbreaking. I loved Tanhaji... and everyone loved it, too, so I am in sync. It is not like I loved a certain performance of mine and people said, ‘Oh, it was awful’.

A lot of actors who have done comedy and even flourished in the genre, say that it’s really tough to pull off comedy on screen. You have done quite a few romcoms in your career, your thoughts?
I think comedy is the hardest form of acting. It is about perfect timing, and you can’t do it if you are not gifted. I am not talking about myself; I am talking about someone like Akshay Kumar, who has done so many comedies. We generally need to take comedy parts that actors do, more seriously.

All that suave, sass that is needed for the romcoms that you do, is inherently a part of you. You must have heard people say things like, ‘Saif is playing himself because it is an urban, cool role.’ While their reaction is positive, the so-called relatable, closer-to-home roles are also not as easy to play as they seem, right?
It is still “playing”, and it is not really yourself. It is like a version of yourself. There is a difference between realism and reality, and we all want realism, but we don’t want reality. There is a difference.

Alaya says that the two of you shared a great comfort level and even during her solo shots, you were there on set to give her cues. What do you have to say about her potential as an actor?
The camera loves Alaya and she is so good in front of it. She is natural, sharp and a good actor. If the film does well, she is the reason for it. The story is about the girl, and Alaya has carried the film through. If she wouldn’t be magical, there would be no story here.

When you see young new talents, including your daughter Sara, do you think that their work culture, style is different from what yours was when you started out?
It is different because the industry is changing, and back in the 90s, it was not as professional as it is today. In some ways it is good and in some ways, it is not. I see so much of this management, or mismanagement happening today, where people are trying to create this personality for actors by making them do this, go there and say that. It is too choreographed. I think you have to be yourself. The good thing is that, I feel we are a mature industry. There are certain films that young actors can do and there are films that 50-year-old guys can do. We are quite youth-obsessed in our country, but luckily, now there are good roles for everyone. It is fascinating to play the part of a young father.

Kareena (Kapoor Khan) says that the one thing she has learnt from you is that there is more to life than just movies...
I am very lucky to have her in my life because she also encourages friendships and relationships away from this business. Whether it is cooking, hanging out with friends at home, renting a cottage in whichever country or doing simple things together — it is about valuing the quality time we spend together. We have our similarities and differences, but this is one huge thing we have in common. We work here, we love and respect it, but it is not an obsession. There is another side to life that is as important, like traveling, meeting people, and being with simple friends. A lot of our friends wonder why we like going to Gstaad (Switzerland), as it is full of older people. But we like it because Kareena and I are old souls in a way. We like to chill, and chat over a bottle of wine for hours. Some people probably need to be in a more happening place, we don’t.

Are your learnings as a father to Sara and Ibrahim, helping you with raising Taimur?
Yes, and no. Sara was my first child, we were so excited about it, and we did so much together. But your heart really separates into three pieces when you have three children. I know it sounds filmi, but one child can’t replace the other. Like, if I am upset with Sara or Ibrahim, I know that Taimur can’t make it better. Somehow, the more kids you have, the more you keep dividing yourself. Learning-wise, I am more patient now as a person, so I get on to Taimur’s frequency more than I did with Sara and Ibrahim, hopefully. I can have a more serious chat with Sara and have a drink with her, I can talk to Ibrahim about different things, and enjoy the infancy of Taimur. They are all great feelings.

As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 16, 2019)

Saif Ali Khan and I first collaborated for the promotions of his 2017 film Chef. He just told me to keep it comfortable. For me, Saif is the epitome of classic sophistication; it comes naturally to him. It’s not about clothes or accessories; it’s innate.


Over the past two years, I’ve observed that he has started to experiment more with colours and cuts, not just for outings but also when off-duty. He’s looking fresher and younger. The best part is that he’s not working to create an image. If he’s convinced about an outfit, he carries it effortlessly.

My first attempt to push him out of his comfort zone was when he made an appearance on Karan Johar’s chat show Koffee With Karan with his daughter Sara Ali Khan. Saif is a proper gentleman and doesn’t like meddling with the classics. I wanted an all-black look with white brogue shoes, but he insisted on socks. We argued; he wasn’t ready to ditch the socks. Next day, I turned up for the shoot without socks, leaving him no choice. He was adjudged the ‘Best Dressed Male Celebrity’ of the season. After that, he is more open to new ideas.

I think he now wants to go for a more boyish style, but not as an image-changing exercise. He has lost a lot of weight and looks fitter, even his hairstyle is fresh. So, Saif wants to do things that go with that vibe. He now loves ripped denims as opposed to the time when he went with bootcuts and straight-fits. In his next production, Jawaani Jaaneman, he plays a guy with swag, a stylish character you’d fall for. He even has a buzz haircut.

While he was promoting Laal Kaptaan, we started incorporating colours, pairing a basic look with yellow glares or red shoes. When he realised it was working, he called to say, “I like these colourful shoes. Let’s go and waste money on them.” I wasn’t sure I had heard him right till Saif rattled off the colours he wanted. “Red, blue, yellow espadrilles—I want to wear them all.”

Dressing up has been an integral part of his life, but he is governed by his mood. I can’t put a sweatshirt with a brand logo emblazoned across the chest on him. He is subtle that way. Saif is aware of brands but doesn’t have preferences. And he will just not wear bomber jackets or ill-fitting clothes or shoes. No matter how good they look, he will reject them outright, telling me to give it to my boyfriend instead.

We keep borrowing from his personal suit collection. He also prefers his own denims and shoes. As far watches go, I can’t even imagine sourcing the one-of-a-kind timepieces he has. He is a also a kurta-pyjama and Kolhapuri slippers guy. Then, he doesn’t care about what he is wearing. His style is not influenced by wife Kareena Kapoor’s, but whenever they step out, I’m awed at how good they look together.



1. CLASSIC CHIC: This look proved to be such a head-turner. It is a chic version of a classic blue denim and white tee combo. We teamed the basic look with red espadrilles and white glasses

2. SUITS HIM FINE: For the trailer launch of Tanhaji: The Unsung Hero, we decided to go with an olive suit to break the monotony. It looks fresh and different from his previous outings. Saif makes a suit look so good!

3. RETRO COOL: This was an extremely fresh and somewhat boyish look. We used understated basics—blue tee with blue ripped denims and white shoes. The yellow tinted glasses, from his collection of accessories, added a retro vibe



4. BLACK N’ WHITE: Saif wanted a sophisticated look for KJo’s show with Sara. We chose a black custom-made double-breasted suit with a black tee and white Oxford shoes without socks. He sported a ponytail at the time which went with the nonconformist vibe. The look was cool, but didn’t dilute the sophistication he is known for

5. TWIST OF ITALY: The classic Italian suit was custommade for the premiere of his show, the shoes were his own

Mirror reader Milind Vora quizzes his favourite actor Saif Ali Khan on ‘indulgent’ film choices, soul food and his obsession with London
As told to Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 10, 2019)

When I was introduced to him, Saif Ali Khan’s first reaction was, ‘Aren’t you a politician?’. “No, that’s Milind Deora, I’m Milind Vora,” I clarified. Being a fan of the actor who has clocked 30 years in films, I’ve closely followed Khan’s career — from the goofy comedies to the full-blown espionage thrillers. That he started out with multi-starrers before flying solo, makes me wonder if it was a deliberate strategy. “It is a safer option. If you run into trouble at the box office, it can help mitigate the risk and sometimes, it’s not bad to share credit provided the same people are willing to stand by you to share the blame,” says the actor, who featured in blockbusters such as Yeh Dillagi and Main Khiladi Tu Anari along with Akshay Kumar.

Khan, then, solidified his place as an effective second lead before jumping into numerous romcoms, which were lapped up by fans and critics alike. So what drove his film choices? “It’s just an instinct but there must be a pattern. I like to be known as a successful actor but also want to experiment. The idea is to have a good time, and hopefully, no one loses money in the bargain,” he says. But his recent cinematic experiments have been harshly received, turning this theory on its head. “I agree that some of my choices have been a bit indulgent, and that can be a bad thing. Box office success has to do with what people want to watch,” he says, assuring us that his forthcoming releases, Bhoot Police and Vikram Vedha are crowd pleasers.

Just like with films, Khan shares that he has a varied taste in music. “Last night, I was listening to Ted Nugent’s What The doctor Ordered, which is classic rock. But I also love Jazz, Funk, Blues and other genres,” he shares, adding that despite featuring in many, he doesn’t have an appetite for love stories. In fact, in recent years, he has even avoided featuring in them. “The romcom genre of Hum Tum and Salaam Namaste has changed to Badhaai Ho,” he says.

The actor has also skipped the wave of films set in mofussil towns. Perhaps, he was limited by his urban screen image? “I keep saying, ‘I want to play a struggling tailor from a small town’, but my management won’t let me. This is what Harrison Ford warned us about — ‘the less you know about an actor, the easier his job will be’. Hopefully, some nawab roles will come my way soon,” he jokes.

Khan acknowledges the recent renaissance of character actors. “From actors such as Nawaz [Nawazuddin Siddiqui], Pankaj [Tripathi] and Irrfan [Khan], you learn that command over language is crucial. My English is better than my Hindi, so I would be limited in expressing myself in that language. Also, Rajkummar Rao teaches you the importance of putting a thought across to the audience.”

With a career complete with hits and misses, Khan has no regrets, but feels that “Go Goa Gone should’ve gone down better than it did”. “Sometimes, we make mistakes in storytelling and drafting characters. For instance, Agent Vinod should’ve been more desi and serious.” Khan also believes that he’s not equipped for every film but has become more accepting. “I couldn’t have done Laal Kaptaan or Tanhaji a few years ago. If you’re not a trained ballet dancer, you cannot do Swan Lake,” says the 49-year-old, adding that “a lot of my energy comes from my haircut.”

A foodie with a nuanced palette, when Khan is really hungry, he turns to junk food. “The soul gets filled with healthy food like fish and rice or dal-chawal but when I am hungry, my mind immediately goes to pizza or popcorn. So the trick is to never be too hungry.” I’ve also read that he loves to slip away to London for extended breaks. So what does he do there? “Mumbai is a good city to work and achieve something, but in that rush, the respect for some of the finer things gets lost, at least in my world. And the nasty climate keeps one from spending time outdoors. So my favourite thing to do in London is to go and sit in a park, or take my son for a walk.”

Laal Kaptaan is a slow, painful and a bizarre film. The writing is poor and even the execution isn’t great. The editing is not smooth in this film that has multiple tracks. On top of that, it’s confusing and the lack of subtitles adds to it, especially when so many characters are speaking in different dialects throughout the film. A few developments will baffle viewers. Although the explanation is given in the end, it’s too late and also a bit silly. On the positive side, a few scenes here and there are well shot. And performances are great. Saif Ali Khan is damn good and looks so dashing. It’s really unfortunate that the film he worked so hard for will go largely unnoticed. Deepak Dobriyal tries to be funny but doesn’t succeed in most of the scenes. Manav Vij is awesome as the villain. His intense eyes compliment his character. Zoya Hussain is confident while Neeraj Kabi is dependable. Sonakshi Sinha is wasted and is there for a few minutes. All in all, Laal Kaptaan should be avoided at all costs!

My rating - ** out of 5!

COMPLETE MADNESS AS AROUND 9-10 HINDI FILMS TO RELEASE TOMORROW!

In the past, we have seen how pre-Diwali week is the worst time to release a film. Footfalls are down in the week before the Festival of lights as people are busy shopping and decorating and in cleaning their houses, or going back to their hometowns. Also, biggies release on Diwali and hence, the week before that is usually left vacant by important films. As a result, small films take advantage of the second factor and release their films on this day. In 2016, as many as 7 Hindi films had released in the week before Diwali. This time, the record is broken as at least 9 films are scheduled to hit screens tomorrow. And not just small, one very big film too will be releasing! My analysis:

1. LAAL KAPTAAN: It stars Saif Ali Khan in the role of a Naga Sadhu in the pre-Independence period. It is directed by NH 10 and Manorama Six Feet Under director Navdeep Singh and co-produced by Aanand L Rai of Tanu Weds Manu, Zero and Newton fame. It also features Zoya Hussain, Deepak Dobriyal and Manav Vij, along with Sonakshi Sinha in a special appearance. The film is extremely expensive as it has a period set up and shot in real locations. Moreover, it’s too niche and hence, anyway not many people would watch it. And moreover, it’s being released in such a dull week and that too without any promotion. There’s hardly any buzz for the film and hence, the opening will be disastrous, in the range of Rs. 1-2 crore.

2. GHOST: As the name suggests, it’s a horror film. It’s directed by Vikram Bhatt and stars Sanaya Irani and Shivam Bhaargava. The trailer is nothing exciting and looks like an outdated scary movie. Vikram’s last horror film, 1921, managed an opening of Rs. 1.57 crore as it was kind of a part of the 1920 franchise and also had a known face like Zareen Khan. And times have changed since then. This year, another horror film with known faces, Amavas, starring Sachiin Joshi and Nargis Fakhri, hit screens and it took an opening of just Rs. 60 lakhs. Ghost has no popular name and promotion has been negligible. Hence, day 1 collections would be around Rs. 40-50 lakhs.

3. #YAARAM: It stars Prateik Babbar and Siddhanth Kapoor along with Pyaar Ka Punchnama actress Ishita Raj. The makers tried to publicize this film by claiming ‘it’s a love square and not a love triangle’ and even mentioning in the trailer that it’s the most controversial film of the year. But audiences aren’t interested. It looks too urban and hence it only has a chance in multiplexes. But audiences there would rather see Laal Kaptaan or holdover films like War and Joker than this movie.

4. OFFICER ARJUN SINGH IPS: Starring Priyanshu Chatterjee and Raai Laxmi, it looks like a dated 90s flick not just content-wise but even visually. It has a very slim chance and that too in small towns of Northern states.

5. P SE PYAAR F SE FARAAR: This seems like a poor copy of Sairat with a dash of sports. Newcomer Bhavesh Kumar plays the lead and surprisingly Jimmy Sheirgill has a supporting role. The latter is not as much in the trailer as Bhavesh. It is all set to get a less-than-Rs 10 lakh opening, just like Officer Arjun Singh IPS.

6. LIFE MEIN TIME NAHI HAI KISI KO: Apart from P Se Pyaar F Se Faraar, this is the other inter-caste marriage related film of the week. The trailer indicates that this movie speaks about some important issues plaguing the society. But the background score is funny and peppy and doesn’t gel well with the narrative. Krushna Abhishek, Rajniesh Duggall and Yuvika Chaudhary are the leading actors.

7. KIRKET: This film stars former cricketer Kirti Azad playing himself and stressing the importance of having more Biharis in the Indian Cricket Team. Sadly, the film won’t work anywhere, not even in Bihar, due to zero awareness.

8. JACQUELINE I AM COMING: It stars Raghubir Yadav and Divya Dhanoya and the trailer is quite bizarre. It starts off as a slice-of-life love story of an older man and a very young woman. But then the film suddenly changes to an unrealistic crime drama. A film like ideally should have released directly on OTT as it’s collections in cinemas will be in thousands, not in lakhs.

9. LOVE SHOTS: It looks like an erotic flick but because of no awareness, it’s business will be limited to a few centres in the hinterland that enjoy such kind of cinema.

That’s not all. There are two films – Junction Varanasi and Zindagi Tumse – that were also to release tomorrow. As of now, they won’t release but one can never be sure.

And yes, there are two Hollywood films as well - Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Zombieland 2: Double Tap. Both these films too will open to poor houses although the former might open in the same range or better than Laal Kaptaan!

BOMBAY TIMES (October 15, 2019)

Ever since the trailer of Laal Kaptaan released, Saif Ali Khan has been garnering appreciation for his Naga sadhu avatar in the film. Director Navdeep Singh says that it took the actor a lot of prep to transform into the character.

Talking about the challenges of making the film, he shares, “Period films are both fun and terrifying. Though there are references and research materials, it’s like building a world from scratch. You must be careful about every little detail — lights, backdrops, weapons, utensils, etc. One has to be well-prepared, as there is almost no room for error at the time of shoot. You can’t make last-minute changes, be it in costumes or props.” Calling Saif “underrated”, Navdeep says that the multi-talented actor has immense untapped potential, despite having a career spanning over two decades.

The film, a thriller that showcases the journey of a man seeking revenge, has been shot in some tough terrains, braving harsh weather conditions — heat, cold and heavy rains.

Laal Kaptaan, co-produced by Eros International and Aanand L Rai’s Colour Yellow Productions, releases on October 18.

Laal Kaptaan director reveals they tweaked Khan's on-screen avatar after fans drew parallels with Johnny Depp's character in Pirates Of The Caribbean
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; October 5, 2019)

As soon as Saif Ali Khan's look from Laal Kaptaan was leaked last year, cinephiles promptly pointed out its striking similarities with Johnny Depp's avatar from Pirates Of The Caribbean. While director Navdeep Singh maintains that the resemblance was coincidental, he reveals that the team made minor alterations to Khan's look after the similarities were brought to their notice. "Some scenes required Saif to wear a head gear. But we decided to discard it [owing to the similarities with Jack Sparrow]. Also, I would like to point out that naga sadhus have been around for almost 5,000 years. So, Jack Sparrow's look could have been inspired by them. Johnny Depp's character has dreadlocks and wears an orange bandana. If you go to Haridwar, you will find hundreds of sadhus dressed exactly like that. So it's silly to compare the two looks."

Singh emphasises that his leading man's rugged avatar — replete with kohl-lined eyes, ash-smeared face and dreadlocks — is crucial to his act as a ruthless Naga sadhu seeking revenge. The actor, on his part, devoted months to bulk up for the role. "I didn't want a chiselled body that can be acquired through regular gym sessions because that would be a modern day look. I wanted Saif to have the appearance of a pehelwan, a robust frame that you acquire by going to the akhada."

Heaping praise on Khan for getting into the skin of the character, the director says the shoot was physically demanding. "When we were shooting in the desert, Saif's feet had developed cracks and were bleeding since he was walking on the hot sand. My assistants excitedly told me, 'Sir, that is real blood. Let's include it in the shot,'" he laughs.

DNA (September 27, 2019)

The teaser and the first trailer of Laal Kaptaan have piqued the viewers’ curiosity. Saif Ali Khan plays a naga sadhu in the film set in the Pre-Independence era. He sports a beard and long, unkempt, matted hair. Now, the makers have released the first look of Sonakshi Sinha from the film. Dressed like a nautch girl with a veil covering half her face and wearing chunky jewellery, the actress looks beautiful.

When asked about her role, director Navdeep Singh said, “Hers is a special appearance, but pivotal to the story. At this point, I’d like to leave that a mystery. All I can say is, it adds the glamour quotient to the film.”

He added that he wanted to cast someone with star quality and appeal, “Someone who’d leave an impression. Sonakshi is extremely versatile and fits the bill to perfection. I had not met her earlier and since we were mid-schedule, working with her was a pleasant surprise and a pure delight. She’s super-smart, a fab actor and totally professional,” he gushes.

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 27, 2019)

The recently launched trailer of Laal Kaptaan, with its rustic setting and Saif Ali Khan's act as a merciless killer, has built curiosity among the audience. Now, the makers have shared the first look of Deepak Dobriyal from the revenge saga. Like the leading man, Dobriyal too is seen in an avatar that is far divorced from his previous outings.

Director Navdeep Singh says, "Deepak plays a character who tracks down an animal or a man by following his scent." Arriving at his look, he reveals, took months of work. "We went through a number of changes before finalising on this one. He is a phenomenal actor and knows how to take a character further. Deepak's comic timing was the reason we chose him for the role."

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 26, 2019)

Just before he started filming his next, Jawaani Jaaneman, Saif Ali Khan underwent an amazing makeover. Not only did he do away with his long mane and sported a crew cut with a stubble but also lost approximately 11 kilos.

What’s interesting is that the Nawab did it all on his own without a trainer or a nutritionist. Earlier, there were reports of him following a no-sugar, no-carbs diet, but a source close to the actor denies it. “He is not trying to follow any no-sugar, no-salt and no carb diet. He is eating home-cooked meals, which includes dal, roti, chawal, subzi in proportion and a basic workout routine.”

The source adds that Saif has been playing characters that have required him to undergo various physical transformations. The first season of his debut web series Sacred Games and his upcoming film, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior needed him to bulk up to do justice to the characters. The actor also sported a beard for a long time for his roles of a warrior and a naga sadhu for Tanhaji and Laal Kaptaan respectively.

“After wrapping up these projects, Saif had to slip into his character for Jawaani Jaanemann, which is a coming-of-age film, for which he lost weight and changed his hairstyle. The actor underwent this transformation all by himself with healthy ghar ka khana,” the insider states, adding, “His cheat meals have only been on days he’d travel or special occasions like his birthday or the wrap-up of Jawaani Jaanemann. Since he prefers spending time at home, eating out has always been limited. He currently does weights and cardio without an instructor.”

When he was spotted with his new look, fans gushed over him saying he appears 15 years younger!

Director Navdeep Singh on why he roped in Sonakshi for Saif's film about Naga sadhu
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 24, 2019)

Even though Laal Kaptaan is centred on Saif Ali Khan's Naga sadhu character, director Navdeep Singh believes Sonakshi Sinha's character will have an equal impact. Rumours suggest that the actor plays an ally who helps Khan exact revenge in the film, which revolves around two warring brothers.

Talking about roping in Sinha, Singh says, "I wanted somebody who would leave an impression and had star appeal. Sonakshi fit the bill perfectly. Her part in the film was deliberately kept under wraps so far. I was a little apprehensive the night of the shoot since I hadn't met her before. She is an intelligent actor and it was fabulous to work with her."

Saurabh Sachdeva, acting coach and Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Kakaji’, plays a pivotal role in Saif’s revenge-drama
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 4, 2019)

Saif Ali Khan’s next, Laal Kaptaan, is a revenge-drama revolving around two warring brothers. The Navdeep Singh directorial also features Zoya Hussain and Manav Vij. Renowned acting coach Saurabh Sachdeva, who was last seen in Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyaan as the matchmaker Kakaji, plays a pivotal role in the protagonist’s backstory. “I play an army general from a royal family who brings everyone together for the war. He is an integral part of the childhood of Saif’s protagonist,” Saurabh informs.

He goes on to reveal that as part of his prep, he had to read up on wars but that apart, no other prep was required. “In reference to the character, I am a high-status player in real life,” he asserts, explaining that the term means “someone who may or may not have money but is high on confidence”. He adds that working on the film was a new experience, even if a tad difficult. “We shot in the scorching heat of Rajasthan and until now, I had worked only in studios.”

Next up, Saurabh wants to be seen in roles that his costar has been taking up lately. “Saif is doing good stuff; he has evolved as an actor, signing powerful projects and taking on mature roles. An actor is defined by the choices he makes, and Saif has been making some brave choices. People will be surprised to see his look in this film,” he says.

Among other projects, Saurabh will be seen in are the period portions of Farhad Samji’s Housefull 4 and as an antagonist in a film titled Gwalior with Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta. “Soon, I start shooting for Bejoy Nambiar’s next in London,” he signs off. 

As makers unveil Saif Khan's appearance in Laal Kaptaan, actor on investing two hours a day to look like a Naga Sadhu
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 20, 2019)

One half of two warring brothers, Saif Ali Khan's role of a Naga Sadhu in Navdeep Singh's upcoming revenge drama gained attention last year when photos of the actor in character, went viral. Rechristening their film - until now referred to as Hunter - to Laal Kaptaan, the makers unveil the first look of the actor today. Chronicling the toil put into looking the part, Khan, in a previous interview to mid-day, had said, "I had to invest two hours a day for the make-up. [Shooting for the film was] like going to war every day."

Shot in the lesser known pockets of Rajasthan, Khan reveals that they filmed in "mud and heat" to add depth to its bitter premise. "I play a revengeful Naga Sadhu. He kills a British soldier, and wears a bandana to look cool."

NH10 fame director Singh courted controversy last year when cinephiles pointed to the similarities between the look of Khan, and that of Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp in Pirates Of The Caribbean. Yet, the actor stated that the inadvertent resemblance had missed the makers' eyes until they finished filming. "I can't believe I let that happen," he says, alluding to the similarities. "My nephew Kiaan [Karisma Kapoor's son] and son [Ibrahim] saw the photographs before they had leaked, and said, 'Hey, that's Jack Sparrow.' The resemblance was because of the jacket and dreadlocks. While filming, I never thought about it. If I did, I wouldn't have done it. But, everything will make sense when you see the film."

Ahead of the film's September 6 release, co-producer Color Yellow Production's Aanand L Rai says they are banking on its solid plot-line to make a mark at the box-office. "It is going to create a genre of its own."

Co-producer Eros International's Sunil Lulla adds, "Saif is gifted. This script boasts of a larger-than-life landscape."