Saif Ali Khan played a double role in the beginning of his career, but he is doing a triple role for the first time in forthcoming comedy drama "Humshakals". The actor believes his over two decades of experience in acting gave him the confidence to accept the role which a novice cannot handle.
Son of actress Sharmila Tagore and late India cricket legend Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Saif has come a long way as an actor.
"It's not easy to experiment and I think I can do more than one title role with confidence, so I was enjoying that. I took a bit long to learn about my craft, but it's an actor's duty to entertain people... so this film is a commercial comedy," said Saif who started his career with duds like "Aashik Aawara" (1993) and "Parampara" (1992).
"An inexperienced actor couldn't have worked in the film. Because if you can't perform, it shows on the screen. I couldn't have done this role 10 years back," Saif, who played double role in 1997 film "Hameshaa", told reporters in a group interview.
From "Main Khiladi Tu Anari" to "Dil Chahta Hai", from "Hum Tum" to "Kal Ho Naa Ho" - the 43-year-old proved his mettle in comedy at every juncture of his career.
And now he lets his hair down for "Humshakals" and will be seen in three different avatars - a cool billionaire, the man-child and a woman.
It is not only Saif, even his co-actors Riteish Deshmukh and Ram Kapoor have donned the garb of a woman for their respective roles in the movie.
"We all were trying, but Riteish was looking amazing," he said.
But no competition, he clarified.
"I didn't mind looking bad because I feel it's okay for a guy not to look elegant as a woman but little muscles with a bikini look funny. I was working out more because it should be like a boy trying to look like a girl. I have worn nylon swimming costume," he said
Everything was fine, but for Saif "it's difficult to dance in heels. It's not easy."
"Humshakals" is Saif and director Sajid Khan's first film together and the actor describes the latter as an encyclopaedia on movies.
"Sajid is great fun. It was wonderful working with him - he is either laughing or not happy at all. He laughs a lot and he laughs more than anyone else, which is a nice thing. He doesn't take himself seriously.
"It was very tiring because normal things don't interest Sajid. He is an encyclopaedia on films. He feels his safest genre with the audience is comedy and this ('Humshakals') is his type of comedy. So far it's looking positive," he said.
Tamannaah Bhatia, Esha Gupta and Bipasha Basu are playing the female leads in the film coming out Friday.
This is Saif's first release of this year and he is looking forward to the film as his much-talked about "Bullet Raja" with director Tigmanshu Dhulia didn't work well at the box office.
Talking about box office debacle of "Bullett Raja", Saif said: "It was a Tigmanshu Dhulia kind of film. He was hoping that if he would take me, the numbers will change, but I think people know what to expect from a film."
In a film's success producers and publicity plans play a key role, according to Saif who also produces film under his banner, Illuminati Films.
"Producers are very important, and I think Sajid Khan is producing 'Humshakals and he is very driven. See the way he has taken control of the publicity - that's the most important thing. They know how to release the film. It's not just the money. Rahul Mitra (producer of 'Bullett Raja') is a nice guy but he doesn't know how to do it," said Saif.
(Uma Ramasubramanian can be contacted at uma.sagit@gmail.com)
