Saif Ali Khan reveals a producer made him kiss her cheek 10 times whenever she handed him Rs 1000

Saif Ali Khan recalls his early days of struggles

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has recently reflected on the early struggles of his career. Despite being from the Nawab family, a son of cricket legend Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and veteran star Sharmila Tagore, Saif admitted that his early Bollywood journey wasn’t smooth.

In a recent interview with Esquire India, the actor revealed he was paid just Rs 1,000 per week. The actor revealed that a producer, who gave him Rs 1,000, demanded a kiss on her cheek ten times each time she handed him the money.

Saif married Amrita Singh at the age of 21, and by the time he was 25, he had a child.  He had actual financial responsibilities from the beginning, in contrast to many of his peers. The actor suggested that people thought his path was simple, but it was actually filled with forgettable movies and second roles.

He shared, “I’d done second lead, third lead... There were a couple of films that were decent, that kept one afloat. But then there came a time when, you know, one after another, they were very bad.”

Saif refers 1990s as his "net practice" era, where a decade of learning on the job and trial and error.  In an attempt to consider how far he has come, he recently rewatched every movie from the first 20 years of his career, one night at a time, on YouTube.

The actor shared, “People would say, you’re lucky you’ve got so many chances. But it wasn’t that I was getting the best movies in town and being cast as the main lead.”

Saif Ali Khan’s career

Saif Ali Khan has established himself as a romantic hero for his performance in movies like Dil Chahta Hai and Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega. However, the actor broke the stereotype with his award-winning role in Omkara (2006). The actor then continued with the stellar roles in movies and shows like Phantom, Tandav and Sacred Games.

Also Read: Saif Ali Khan's family property dispute moves to Supreme Court after six decades

The actor was last seen alongside Jaideep Ahlawat in Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins. The high-octane action thriller directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal premiered on Netflix.

Saif Ali Khan is currently shooting for Priyadarshan’s Haiwaan, which also marks a reunion with Akshay Kumar.