Happy Birthday Saif Ali Khan: 10 performances that showcase the actor’s incredible range
Celebrate Saif Ali Khan’s birthday by revisiting 10 of his most versatile roles. From the charming Dil Chahta Hai to the menacing Omkara, and the witty Sacred Games, Saif has proven his brilliance across genres. Each performance highlights his depth, adaptability, and unique screen presence. Here’s a look at the roles that define his extraordinary career
Omkara (2006) Saif Ali Khan transitioned from rom-com movies to a dark role. He portrayed a limping bad guy with an Othello complex and pitch-perfect Western UP accent. The film revolves around Langda's dreams of becoming Omkara's successor after the latter wins the election. Things took a dramatic turn when Omkara appointed Kesu as his lieutenant. Langda feels betrayed and plots revenge.
2/10
Dil Chahta Hai (2001) Saif portrayed the lovable dumb friend with the worst love life luck in the world. In a movie that rewrote male friendships in Bollywood, Saif was the golden retriever energy man. When Aamir brooded and Akshaye emo'd before emo was even a thing, Saif provided fans with comic timing, cuteness, and that all-time classic Woh Ladki Hai Kahan song.
3/10
Being Cyrus (2005) Saif plays a dead-eyed drifter with sinister motives in this offbeat psychological thriller. This underrated film follows Cyrus Mistry, who is coaxed by Katy Dinshaw to murder her father-in-law, Fardoonjee, so that she can spend time with her brother-in-law, Farrokh. Little does she know that Cyrus has other plans.
4/10
Hum Tum (2004) Saif Ali Khan nailed his role of Karan Kapoor in Hum Tum. In this slow-burn rom-com that is so gendered, Saif was able to transform from a man-child to a man-man without ever becoming annoying. He also won a National Award for his performance.
Sacred Games (2018–2019) Existential dread, crumbling morals, and a very realistic cop tan. Netflix's first big Indian gamble was a gritty neo-noir that delivered, and Saif’s Sartaj was its broken soul. Haunted by daddy issues, systemic rot, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s chaos energy, Sartaj gave Saif his streaming-era rebrand.
6/10
Udaybhan Rathod – Tanhaji (2020) Historical villainness, but operatic. He went all-out baddie -- Bloodthirsty, crazy, over-the-top. It's the sort of camp performance only Saif could've turned it into. Eyeliner, fur, slow-mo smirks, he knew which movie he was in.
7/10
Go Goa Gone (2013) India's first zombie comedy and Saif's first bleach-blonde phase still rules in fans’ hearts. In the film, he said he was Russian and resembled one who washed up from Ibiza. And he fought zombies with surprising aptitude. This cult comedy is perhaps the most bizarre thing to have emerged from Bollywood, and Saif embraced the insanity like a pro.
8/10
Love Aaj Kal (2009) In this Imtiaz Ali special, Saif performed both contemporary commitment-phobic Jai and vintage romantic Veer, two lovers from two entirely different timelines. It was musical, moody, and slightly confusing, but he navigated both avatars with restraint and charm.
Ek Hasina Thi (2004) This lean, mean revenge thriller pitted Saif against type, a slick con man who gaslights Urmila Matondkar's character into perdition. The twist is cold, clean, and downright spine-tingling. The film follows Sarika as she falls in love with Karan, a mysterious man who frames her for carrying illegal firearms. However, she transforms into a vindictive woman in jail and sets out to avenge the wrongs done to her.
10/10
Parineeta (2005) In this swoony, sepia-tinted take on Sarat Chandra's novel, Saif exchanged jeans for kurta-pyjamas and added a brooding intensity to the man. The chemistry between him and Vidya Balan was electric, and he looked achingly good playing the piano in old Calcutta.
