Another Khan

I promise that not every male actor in Bollywood is a Khan, (although I won't be writing about Zayed Khan, Fardeen Khan, Arbaaz Khan, and Sohail Khan), but Saif Ali Khan is worth mentioning. He's the son of actress Sharmila Tagore and Indian cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan and, thus, learned about media scrutiny at an early age--of course his actions didn't help alleviate media interest of his life. But Saif has come a long way from his spoiled brat/bad boy image and has become one of the most recognized faces in the world's biggest film industry.



His early career is full of unmemorable performances in unmemorable films with we-wish-we-could-forget mullets (the exceptions are the few films he did with Kajol, of course). But with the release of Dil Chahta Hai, Saif Ali Khan's career was transformed, winning a Filmfare Award for Best Comedian(ne). And funny is what SAK does best. I've been looking for the Hollywood equivalent to SAK, but I can't find one. His comedic timing is superb; his slapstick isn't overdone or stupid; he's goofy, adorable, imperfect, and hot; his characters are usually good boys who think they're bad boys; he's sensitive and sympathetic. He also does his dramatic roles well. Maybe he's like Jimmy Stewart, but SAK isn't that awkward. Maybe he's a bit like Cary Grant, but SAK isn't that smooth. Maybe Hugh Grant, but SAK isn't that obnoxious.

Guys like to watch SAK because his characters are everymen. Girls love him because it's hard not to be sucked in by his quirky charm. But really, SAK has done well for himself considering he has a funny voice, a nose bigger than Shah Rukh Khan's, and is one of the worst dancers in Bollywood (please refer to Kal Ho Naa Ho's "Maahi Ve"). Nonetheless, when I watch a SAK film, I know his performance won't disappoint me, and usually I'll have had a few good laughs along the way.

My favorite Saif Ali Khan films:
Yeh Dillagi (1994)--with Kajol and Akshay Kumar
Hamesha (1997)--with Kajol
Dil Chahta Hai (2001)--with Aamir Khan, Preity Zinta, Akshaye Khanna, and Sonali Kulkarni
Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)--with Preity Zinta and Shah Rukh Khan
Hum Tum (2004)--with Rani Mukherjee
Parineeta (2005)--with Vidya Balan and Sanjay Dutt
Salaam Namaste (2005)--with Preity Zinta

Next up: Preity Zinta