Saif Ali Khan: Chefs are really artistic but we do take them for granted sometimes

To become Roshan Kalra, Saif Ali Khan took a three-month training at The Marriot. In an exclusive conversation with indianexpress.com, Saif talks about how the role has changed his outlook on the profession.

Saif said, “I have always respected chefs. At home also, my father would make sure to tell the chef that he/she has done a good job. But yes, when you step into their shoes, you become more aware of it. I feel a connection now. I am aware of the profession now.”

He added, “They are really artistic but we do take them for granted sometimes. Most of the time, like music in the restaurants, people don’t even clap for it. So, it is unfair.”

The film is directed by Airlift helmer Raja Krishnan Menon who feels Saif has done justice to the character of Roshan. He shared the reason to why he thought Saif is the perfect man to play somebody so complex yet vulnerable on screen. “Saif was right for the film because he has an interesting vulnerability and stardom at the same time. These were the qualities I was looking for in Roshan Kalra,” said the director.

In the trailer of the film, we see Saif’s character Roshan juggling between love and work. His love is not a woman but his 13-year-old son. Roshan’s relationship with him is turning sour. While we would discover how their bond will grow stronger in the film, we were quite inquisitive to know how Saif manages time for his kids – Taimur Ali Khan, Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Khan.

When asked how being an actor, a job that almost takes away his entire day, he manages to make time for his kids, this is what Saif said, “It’s happening right now. My son (Taimur) is in the garden somewhere and I am here finishing interviews. I want to finish and rush as I was supposed to meet him at 6. So, that’s the point. In our profession, it is extremely difficult to strike a balance and I am sure others have their own stress. But… we don’t work all the time. With Raja, it was like a 12 hours shift. We would at times start early and finish early. Akshay Kumar has got it nailed I think. He has the discipline. He starts early and makes sure he gives time. We can learn from him.”

But did the thought of ‘I wish I would have chosen some other field’ cross his mind in all these years?

“I never really had the option. Sometimes there are fantasies like Sara should have taken up a normal job but I think that would have been boring. We are slightly weird people. You can’t do anything else. We are used to this crazy life.”

Coming back to the film, Saif expressed how Chef is important for him and the entire team. However, he clarified that despite flops in the recent past, he is not desperate for a hit.

The film, which also marks the debut of south Indian Padmapriya, is scheduled for an October 6 release.