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A man for all seasons, Saif Ali Khan is an interviewer's delight. Here's a lowdown of what transpired when 9xe.com met him at Mehboob Studios...
Phantom is releasing almost a year since your last outing. Does that make you feel edgy?
When you partner with a good producer, director and create a good product, it doesn't matter how long the gap is frankly, provided you are interesting to watch! And anyway, it's always nice to take a break. Little reinvention is called for. Doing too much work doesn't suit me. I get burnt out easily. Then, you start looking like you are doing someone a favour, which you're not.
Despite being ready for close to a year, Phantom's release was delayed. Many said it shared similarities to Akshay Kumar's Baby and hence, the delay. True?
I don't think so. There is enough of a difference and you'll get it when you see the film. It's in a similar genre but the treatment's so different. It's like comparing Darr with Baazigar. Talking to Kabir Khan and talking to Neeraj Vora are different ball games, right? That's also the case with their films. It was producer Sajid Nadiadwala's call to release the film over the Raksha Bandhan weekend. It makes a huge difference to the numbers if you manage a holiday for release.
Katrina Kaif and you are working together after the 2008 hit Race. How has she evolved as an actress?
Kabir, she and I went for a walk in Beirut. When we sat down to eat together, I told her that I am really happy to see how much she's achieved in the last few years since Race. She smiled and felt relaxed that I wasn't treating her as the same girl who was playing the second lead in Race. I believe in respecting others' achievements. I tried not to make her uncomfortable. If you take her seriously, she has a good mind and she's interested in every aspect of movie-making. I like her, she's not difficult.
The year began with a slew of announcements in your name. You supposedly walked out of Mr Chaaloo, followed by rumours of you acting in the screen adaptation of The Devotion Of Suspect X, Jugalbandi for Salman Khan's company, and a film each with Sriram Raghavan and Mohit Suri. What's going on really?
The one film I am doing is Vishal's (Bhardwaj) Rangoon We'll see what else falls into place. As for Jugalbandi, I think it's a nice script and I'd love to do it. But right now, we don't know who's acting in it.
Haven't you signed a three-film deal with Balaji despite the fact that you also are an independent producer?
That doesn't get into the way. I can produce my films and act in films outside my company. It's good money. It's a three-film deal and I'll do one film at a time. There's no hurry to start something right away.
What happened to the Vikramaditya Motwane film?
It's not great to discuss projects that you're not a part of anymore. Let's just say, it didn't suit me.
Rangoon co-stars Shahid Kapoor. Are you comfortable working with him?
Once we start shooting, we'll get along out of mutual respect for one another. I think working with strangers is easy. But when personal things get into it, it affects me. I prefer working with people I don't know. It brings freshness to the table. It also brings concentration, a little bit of tension and discomfort. I think too comfortable is not a good idea.
Shahid reportedly invited you for his wedding and reception, which you didn't attend. Your absence raised eyebrows...
I don't know if we were invited to the wedding, but maybe to the reception. I don't step out as much. Anyway, I don't want to be in a situation where I have to go out for some 'right' reasons. I don't tend to go to weddings and parties as much.
But then...
(Interrupts) When you are not particularly trying to avoid someone, it's all okay. Publicly turning up or not turning up for a function is not to judge me by. I treat people the way they treat me. I think Shahid's a really nice guy. He is polite and well brought up. He's a gentleman. I think we will share a courteous relationship at work.
Your son Ibrahim has become popular on social media. Do you think it's too early for him to be in the public eye?
He should not really get involved with all this till he has something concrete to say but I may be wrong. Times have changed. Maybe it works to have built a fan base since you were 14, which will propel your popularity when you become an actor at 20 or 25. My instinct is that Ibrahim should just concentrate on work, keep a low profile, complete his education and then if he wants to become an actor, he should be launched properly.
Sara is keen to be an actor too, right?
Yeah. She's doing very well in the university. She's told me she wants to become an actor. After her degree, she can do what she wants. Best of luck to her.
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