My connection with Shashi Kapoor predates Kareena: Saif Ali Khan

The first Prithvi annual festival was started in 1983.

The festival past 32 years has since been the time in the year when the entire theatre family, be it the performers or the audiences, come together to celebrate and show their love for the art and their Prithvi Theatre, a place that is so intimate and special, run by a legend Shashi Kapoor and now his son Kunal who have dedicated their entire lives to keeping the legacy of Prithviraj Kapoor and the dream of Jennifer Kapoor alive. Members of the 'Kapoor Khandaan' who are in town make it a point to be a part of the opening night and the opening of the 2015 festival again was one such. The opening night also had the very elegant Saif Ali Khan and his sister Soha join in the celebrations with the Kapoor family. Excerpts from a quick conversation with the nawab.

What does the Prithvi Theatre mean to you?

It means many things. I love theatre and there is something so special about Prithvi as it is so intimate and so close to the action. It's also special for the fact that the Kapoors have this legacy. I remember Shashi Kapoor coming to our home at Carmichael Road where I grew up. While he worked with my mum in films, he was friendly with both my parents and was probably the closest actor that I remember from those days. Even in those days he would come and talk to my parents about doing King Liar on stage. I remember as a child once he was going to a party and my father lent him his bandhgala. It's wonderful to see how Kunal has taken forward the family legacy. It's important for us in Mumbai to go out and participate in things like this that is done for promoting the arts and that is why I am here. It's beautiful to see how Prithvi brings together people and it's a place Mumbai can be proud of. You are also linked to Prithvi through your wife Kareena.

Well, actually I am quite close to Kunal and my connection to him and Shashiji predates Kareena. So it's nothing to do with her in any way, though it's sweet that it's family also now. As a kid whenever I was on set with Kunal, I would annoy him often and drive him mad on set.



Have you ever thought of doing theatre?

I keep thinking of it but it's such a big commitment and a different kind of deal. And as usual, films pay you more so you land up doing films.

Is there any star that you would like to see doing theatre on stage?

I once saw superstar Orlando Bloom doing Romeo and Juliet. And he was totally upstaged by this theatre actor who played another key role in the play. But I have a video of Al Pacino's performance on stage. He and Dustin Hoffman are unbelievable on stage. I would love to see them live some day.



Shabana Azmi, Farooque Shaikh and Feroz Khan had been a team for over 25 years of them doing Tumhari Amrita together till Farooque Shaikh passed away. Recalling her memories with her two friends, veteran actress Shabana Azmi said, "I was doing a film Ek Pal with Farooque Shaikh being directed by Kalpana Lajmi and he was supposed to run his fingers on my lips in a romantic scene. It was a very difficult task for him. Kalpana shouted from behind the camera, 'Farooque, I am not asking you to brush her teeth. You are supposed to touch her lips.' The same is the problem with my friend Feroz Khan. Once we were doing something on TV where I was playing his wife. So I was supposed to put my arm around Feroz and he tells me, 'Please don't do that. I can't play your husband. I would be good to only play your dewar that too a Lakshman kind of dewarJ'.

Saif with Neila Devi

Nivedita Bhattacharya, Makarand Deshpande, Kay Kay Menon and Kunal Kapoor

Saif Ali Khan: My life will have probably two sets of children

onversation with Saif Ali Khan is always interesting. He is intelligent, well read and loves doing all the different things that he gets to do being born a nawab and being a Bollywood star. He has always been charming, but today, he is also realistic, mature and responsible. Excerpts from a conversation over coffee with him.

You recently worked with Katrina Kaif and she also visited your house with Ranbir. Talk about Katrina?

I wouldn't say I know her very well and most of what she has talked about was her thoughts on the film and not really very personally, but I did find her to be always very nice. I feel that she has consistently really been interested in her work. I remember once she bought this magic dress for a song in Race and I found it very interesting how someone just went out and brought a dress for a song herself. I was impressed and thought it was really being committed. And I feel it's that kind of commitment that has led her to becoming such a successful star. She is really grounded and loyal as a person. I don't want to get personal and offend her in any way, but I have seen her at different points in time in different relationships and she has been loyal at all times. She came home recently for the first time as I wanted her and Ranbir to come.

How do you decide which director you want to work with?
A film is a director's personality. If you want to know what your film will look like, have a look at your director. If you find him worrying and annoying, you might end up with that kind of movie. And if you find him dark, mysterious or cool or sexy, your film might end up like that. There is a high chance that the personality of the film will be the personality of the director. For instance, Imtiaz Ali has traditional knowledge and has a tehzeeb to him, but there is a wildness and awareness to his free flowing personality that is hard to contain. He is free spirited, so you can see that in Love Aaj Kal. Vishal Bhardwaj is an artist, he is musical and deep and you can see it in Omkara.

You have some free time in the first half of this year. What were you up to?

Most of the free time has been spent in playing a good husband and taking my wife around where she wants to go. And I am happy with that too, as Kareena and I have a lot in common. When we have time, it's normally to go to places where she likes to go, like Switzerland or London. Staying at Claridges is her choice and that's where we both like to stay.

What stage of your life are you in?

with the experience and self-awareness that has come in. I enjoy being comfortable with the person I am. There is a financial settling and you look at the films you have done in the 90s and then, one has saved and invested money and you feel secure with a nice house. I feel now I would like to just concentrate on doing some good work. Earlier, everything was happening at the same time and now, there is no distraction really. It's almost like a second innings for me.

Have you changed as a person?

I am sure and I hope. Sometimes I read my earlier interviews and say this can't be me. I just sound younger and too quick to comment and I can tell that it was me in the 20s. They call it maturing. And now, I have more patience and understanding. I am primarily responsible to myself and there is a sense of mortality and awareness. For example, to take care of oneself as against smoking and drinking and taking care of your body so you don't leave it out in the rain. You don't eat or drink some stuff as you want to look a certain way. And I now worry about people. I want life insurance to be done for my mum and I want the kids to be alright, my wife to be taken care of.

Do you have a will?
My mom was talking about it to me. I have worked it out but have not executed it. I don't know how well wills work. But at least yes, they are an intention. My life will have probably two sets of children. So I think a will will be quite useful. I feel that everyone will be well taken care of and be balanced and happy. I think when my will is executed, they will all be alright and fairly pleased. My mom told me the other day, 'You make a will.' I don't know if she has one, but she wants me to make one. Of course, she has made her intentions clear.

Have you become more attached to Pataudi in some way?

It's always been there. It's like my attachment to my father. When my father was alive, it wasn't like a Punjabi movie where a father said, 'Beta, all this is yours.' In fact, I was always the naughty boy who was always in trouble, so he must have always thought what is this guy going to do, which is a bit of a shame but that's how it was. And hopefully, it has worked out in a way that one has developed into a decent human being later rather than earlier. And now, it's about joining the two spheres. Earlier, my father had his life and I had my life in Mumbai, which was very separate from his, but with his passing away, I have now inherited that. So I am trying a way to combine it all.