Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Saif Ali Khan began their career in 1992 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 34 years. With 30 credits to their name, Saif Ali Khan remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Spanning 30+ years, Saif Ali Khan's career remains one of the longest and most celebrated in Tamil cinema.
- Born
Biography
Saif Ali Khan is an Indian film actor and producer. The son of actress Sharmila Tagore and the late cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Khan made his acting debut in Yash Chopra's unsuccessful drama Parampara (1993), but achieved success with his roles in the romantic drama Yeh Dillagi and the action film Main Khiladi Tu Anari (both 1994). Khan's career prospect declined through much of the 1990s, and his biggest commercial success of the decade came with the ensemble drama Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999). He rose to prominence with roles in two ensemble comedy-dramas—Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). The 2004 romantic comedy Hum Tum proved to be Khan's first success in which he played the solo male lead, earning him the National Film Award for Best Actor, and starring roles in the drama Parineeta and the romantic comedy Salaam Namaste (both 2005) established him as a leading actor in Bollywood. He went on to earn wide critical praise for his portrayal of an apprentice in the 2006 English film Being Cyrus, a character based on William Shakespeare's antagonist Iago in the 2006 crime film Omkara and a terrorist in the 2009 thriller Kurbaan. Khan's greatest commercial success came with the 2008 thriller Race and its 2013 sequel, the 2009 romance Love Aaj Kal, and the 2012 romantic comedy Cocktail. Khan is the recipient of several accolades, including a National Film Award and six Filmfare Awards, and received the Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award, in 2010. He has been noted for his performances in a range of film genres—from crime dramas to thrillers and occasional romances—and his film roles have been credited with contributing to a change in the concept of a Hindi film hero. Divorced from the actress Amrita Singh with whom he has two children, Khan has been married to the actress Kareena Kapoor since 2012. In addition to film acting, Khan is a frequent television presenter, stage show performer and the owner of the production company Illuminati Films.
Personal Info
Career Milestones
Iconic Roles
Dil Chahta Hai
Portrayed a charming, romantic young man in a landmark film about modern friendship and love.
Omkara
Played the cunning, manipulative, and physically distinctive villain, a role widely considered a career-best performance.
Vikram Vedha
Played a determined police officer in a cat-and-mouse game with a gangster, in a remake of the Tamil hit.
Defining Moments
Breakthrough with 'Dil Chahta Hai'
His role as Sameer in the cult classic established him as a leading actor of the new generation and defined his 'urban' screen persona.
Critical Acclaim for 'Omkara'
His portrayal of the villain Langda Tyagi in Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptation of Othello earned him major critical praise and several awards.
Receiving the Padma Shri
Was honored with the Padma Shri award by the Government of India for his contributions to Indian cinema.
Leading Role in 'Vikram Vedha' Remake
Headlined the Hindi remake of the critically acclaimed Tamil film, taking on a major dual-hero project opposite Hrithik Roshan.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →
Career Analytics
Genre Breakdown
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
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Did You Know?
Saif Ali Khan is the son of actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the former Nawab of Pataudi.
He made his acting debut in 1993 with the film 'Parampara', directed by Yash Chopra.
He is often credited with pioneering the 'urban cool' persona in Hindi cinema through films like 'Dil Chahta Hai'.
He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role in 'Hum Tum' (2004).
He is the founder of the production company Illuminati Films.
Signature Dialogues
Hum tum, ek kamre mein bandh hon, aur chaabi kho jaaye.
Karan Kapoor·Hum Tum
Main woh aadmi hoon jo tumhare sapnon mein aata hai.
Ranvir Singh·Race
Kya aapke toothpaste mein namak hai?
Deepak Kumar·Main Khiladi Tu Anari
Photos
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Family
Mother
Sharmila Tagore
Spouse
Kareena Kapoor
Child
Sara Ali Khan
Sibling
Soha Ali Khan
News & Stories
Saif Ali Khan turns into a Mughal soldier for his next periodic film
15/5/2017
Saif Ali Khan’s Chef team in trouble at Kochi !!
31/10/2016
Legacy & Influence
Saif Ali Khan's career in Indian cinema is a study in evolution and reinvention. Emerging in the early 1990s as a conventional romantic lead, he initially struggled to find a distinct identity amidst the era's dominant stars. His pivotal shift came in 2001 with Farhan Akhtar's 'Dil Chahta Hai', where his portrayal of Sameer, a vulnerable and lovelorn young man, resonated deeply with a new urban audience and showcased a more naturalistic, contemporary acting style. This marked the beginning of his reputation as a pioneer of the 'metro-sexual' and sophisticated urban hero in Bollywood. Khan consciously diversified his portfolio, taking significant risks that expanded his artistic range and contributed to the industry's narrative scope. His performance as the morally ambiguous Langda Tyagi in Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptation 'Omkara' (2006) was a landmark, demonstrating a chilling intensity and mastery of dialect that shattered his 'chocolate-boy' image and proved his formidable talent in character roles. He further explored this space with nuanced work in films like 'Being Cyrus' and 'Sacred Games'. As a producer under his banner, Illuminati Films, he backed content-driven projects like 'Love Aaj Kal' (2009) and 'Go Goa Gone', supporting newer storytelling formats. His career is characterized by a consistent pursuit of varied characters, from the suave detective in 'Race' to the recent intense cop in 'Vikram Vedha'. While commercial successes have been interspersed, his willingness to experiment and his success in transitioning from a romantic lead to a credible character actor have paved the way for other mainstream actors to explore grey shades and offbeat cinema. He occupies a unique space as a star who bridged the gap between the old guard and the new wave, influencing the perception of the modern Hindi film protagonist.