That time he was sad, angry, brooding - all the angst made him have that mysterious streak to his character so everything back then was like "I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS GUY".
Then he fell in love, new shades appeared.....I think Sai has really gotten lucky to have this character to play. It must be so much fun to hold that gun, walk like a gunda, speak those dialogues.....and have variations in his character, kabhi naram to kabhi garam.