Patcy N in Mumbai
Saif Ali Khan has come a long way.
From a forgettable debut film like Parampara in 1992, the actor has totally reinvented himself and given us memorable roles like that of Langda Tyagi in Omkara, Sameer in Dil Chahta Ha and Shekar Ray in Parineeta, to name a few.
On his 40th birthday, we take a look at some of his best films over the years.
Click through this slide show, and vote for your favourite Saif film at the end of it.
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Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994)
Image: A scene from Main Khiladi Tu Anari
After two years in the industry, Saif tasted major success with Main Khiladi Tu Anari.
The film showcased the actor's great comic timing with co-star Akshay Kumar.
Saif plays an actor, who is fed up of playing a romantic hero and wants to do an action flick. He decides to imitate a cop, played by Akshay Kumar. He played a perfect buffoon in this one.
Yeh Dillagi (1994)
Image: A scene from Yeh Dillagi
Yeh Dillagi is an adaptation of a Hollywood flick Sabrina, starring Audrey Hepburn.
Kajol, a daughter of a driver, is in love with the son (Akshay Kumar) of her father's boss. In the meanwhile, Akshay's younger brother in the film (Saif) falls in love with Kajol.
When the older brother comes to know about this, he sacrifices his love for his sibling. Now, if only the boy's family can agree to the marriage between their rich son and a driver's daughter.
Saif played a Casanova with aplomb. His dance number Ole Ole was a huge hit too.
Dil Chahta Hai(2001)
Image: A scene from Dil Chahta Hai
Dil Chahta Hai won a National Award for best feature film in Hindi, and was a huge commercial success in urban areas as well.
The movie is a story of three friends, played by Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna, who go separate ways in the course of their lives.
Saif got some of the best lines, and he delivered them brilliantly.
Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
Image: A scene from Kal Ho Naa Ho
Directed by Nikhil Advani, Kal Ho Naa Ho told the story of Aman (Shah Rukh Khan), Rohit (Saif Ali Khan) and Naina (Preity Zinta). While SRK's Aman was the soul of the film, as he tried to repair the lives of Naina and Rohit, Saif provided some great moments.
The scenes where Shah Rukh helps Saif woo Preity are done well. And of course, there was the Kantaben hilarity.
Ek Hasina Thi (2004)
Image: A scene from Ek Hasina Thi
Till Ek Hasina Thi, Saif was seen in mostly comic roles.
Then came EHT, where he played a negative role for the first time. He gave a brilliant performance, which got some good reviews.
Inspired from Double Jeopardy, the story is about Sarika (Urmila Matondkar), who falls in a love with Karan Rathod (Saif Ali Khan). After Karan disappears, Sarika is caught in the possession of illegal weapons and gets arrested for her 'link ups' with the underworld.
Saif shifted gears from charming to menacing very ably.
Hum Tum (2004)
Image: A scene from Hum Tum
This was the film that earned Saif his first National Award. It was also his first film with Yash Raj Films.
Inspired from When Harry Met Sally, the film traces Karan's (Saif Ali Khan) and Rhea's (Rani Mukerji) relationship over a few years.
The audience loved Saif's performance in Hum Tum and so did the critics.
Parineeta (2005)
Image: A scene from Parineeta
Parineeta told the story of a girl (played by Vidya Balan), who falls in love with her childhood friend (Saif Ali Khan) and thinks of him as her husband.
Saif was brilliant, as the arrogant and possessive Shekhar, in this film directed by Pradeep Sarkar.
Salaam Namaste (2005)
Image: A scene from Salaam Namaste
In 2005, Saif did two kinds of roles -- while he played a traditional Bengali in Parineeta, Salaam Namaste saw him play an urban boy, who believes in live-in relationships.
Amby (Preity Zinta) and Nick (Saif Ali Khan) fall in love and start living together. Everything is hunky dory until Amby gets pregnant.
Saif's performance made the movie very watchable.
Omkara (2006)
Image: A scene from Omkara
Saif's Langda Tyagi in the Indian adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello fetched him a National Award nomination. Though he didn't win the award, he did win himself a slew of new fans.
Nobody could have played Langda Tyagi the way he did. He was brilliant.
Even though Omkara was not a huge success in India, it did fairly well worldwide.
Race (2008)
Image: A scene from Race
This action thriller about two brothers bent on outwitting each other to lay claim to their father's wealth kept us guessing till the last minute.
Akshaye Khanna played Saif's brother in the film, which also starred Anil Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif and Sameera Reddy.
Race did so well that it has now spawned a sequel starring Kareena Kapoor, Asin, Priyanka Chopra and John Abraham.
Love Aaj Kal (2009)
Image: A scene from Love Aaj Kal
With Love Aaj Kal, Saif turned producer with his production company called Illuminati Films.
As the name suggests, the film is about love set in two different eras -- the modern and not too distant past. Saif's double role was very convincing.
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