Celeb In The Spotlight: Saif Ali Khan

This week, we put Prince [literally] Saif Ali Khan Pataudi in our hotseat for Celeb in the Spotlight!

Saif was born on August 16, 1970 in New Delhi, to Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore. His lineage from his father's side, who is the Nawab of Pataudi, makes Saif an automatic heir of the Royal House of Pataudi as well as Bhopal. The lad has two sisters, jewelery designer Saba Ali Khan and actress Soha Ali Khan.

Khan went to the Lawrence School Sanawar and then continued his education at Lockers Park School in Hertfordshire. He finished it off at Winchester College, the school for boys in the UK.

Saif entered the film industry with a Yashraj production called Parampara [1992]. After that, he featured in a number of other two-hero and multi-starrer films such as Yeh Dillagi [1994], Main Khiladi Tu Anari [1994], Imtihaan [1995], and Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We stand United [1999], some of which were box office failures and some that were commercial successes.
 However, 2001 proved itself to be a major milestone in Khan's career, after he signed up for Farhan Akhtar's urban trailblazer Dil Chahta Hai. That film earned him many accolades and a reputation as one of the most bankable stars in Bollywood.

The list of his hit films after that turning point is a lengthy one, but the most memorable ones include Kal Ho Na Ho, Hum Tum, Salaam Namaste, Ta Ra Rum Pum, and Race. His most recent film was Love Aaj Kal [2009] co-starring Deepika Padukone which went on to be a commercial success like many of his other recent films.

As for the heartthrob's love life, he married fellow film star Amrita Singh in October 1991. The two divorced after 13 years of marriage and two children, son Ibrahaim Ali Khan and daughter Sara Ali Khan, who now live with their mother. Saif is currently dating actress Kareena Kapoor, and he also talked about their relationship and the idea of marriage on October, 2009.
To Ali Khan, marriage is just a "stamp" needed to validate a relationship shared by two beings for society.

Did you know...

• His ex-wife Amrita Singh was 10 years older than him, which caused an uproar in his family.
• His paternal grandfather and father were both former team captains of the Indian cricket team.
• Saif can speak both Bengali and Hindi fluently, along with impeccable English.
• In 2007, Khan was hospitalized due to chest pains during a rehearsal for his performance at the Stardust Awards that were to be held that night. 

And that was this week's Celeb in the Spotlight! Your views?

Editor: Lola & Gunia
Graphics: Zunni