actor Saif Ali Khan is a busy man these days— playing a soccer star and planning to shoot a ‘Ruffles Lays’ commercial in Spain to be directed by Kunal Kohli—even as his new film
Hum Tum hits the theatres.Hollywood star of the past, Deborah Kerr, after being passed over yet again for the Best Actress Oscar ruefully observed, ‘Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.’ Saif is in a similar position. A big name in the parallel hero/supporting actor category, he is yet to deliver as the solo hero of a film.
A jinx? The talented Saif was the hero in his debut film
Aashiq Awara (1993) which flopped. Since then, he has seldom figured as a solo hero. But as a supporting actor, he acted in films like Yash Chopra’s
Parampara, Sooraj Bharjatiya’s Hum Saath Saath Hain, Farhan Akthar’s
Dil Chahta Hai and the recent Karan Johar hit Kal Ho Na Ho.
Bollywood directors admit that Saif has matured over the years. Says Umesh Mehra, who directed him in
Aashiq Awara, “Saif has definitely matured as an actor and needs just one hit as a solo star. I hope this happens with Hum Tum”. The editor of a well-known trade journal observes, “Saif symbolises youth and exuberance. He has an eye for comedy. But he must prove he can pull in crowds on his own.”
The solo hero image is the ultimate stamp of success for an actor. Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Sunjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan and, to a lesser extent, Salman Khan and Sunny Deol have it in them.
Hum Tum, a Yash-Raj film is the litmus test for Saif. He plays the cartoonist in a leading newspaper and cast opposite Rani Mukherjee.
Director Kohli does not hide the fact that the role was originally meant for Aamir Khah. Realising the need for a more youthful hero, and the fact that Aamir had date problems, Kohli chose Saif. Saif, unlike Aamir or Shah Rukh, can play a 21- year old and a 29-year-old with as much ease. Hence, Kohli opted for him.
Hum Tum
is all about love—its waxing and waning— in three stages of life. Though funny, it has its serious moments.
Rani has a high opinion of her co-star, Saif. “He is really funny, but deep down, there is a serious element. He reads, keeps in touch with events and is well-informed. His approach to any role is intelligent.” Rani and Saif were seen together in
J. P. Dutta’s LOC and Karan Johar’s Kal Ho Na Ho but not as a romantic pair.
Saif is taking no chances about this film. To promote his film, Saif even agreed to feature in popular serial
Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin as cartoonist Karan. Jassi, who disagrees with the cartoonist’s views on men and women, writes to him. Finding her views refreshingly original, the cartoonist visits her office for a chat.
It’s remains to be seen whether the film makes room for yet another Khan in the firmament now dominated by Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir.
