Jun 08, 2026 7:40pm IST
Saif Ali Khan On The Acting Tip He Received From Shah Rukh Khan During ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Saif Ali Khan and Shah Rukh Khan worked together in the 2003 film "Kal Ho Na Ho." In a recent conversation with Variety India, Saif revealed how a piece of advice from Shah Rukh reshaped his understanding of acting.
Saif, who is collaborating with "Bhooth Bangla" director Priyadarshan for the very first time on his film with Akshay Kumar titled "Haiwaan," spoke about being thrilled on teaming up with the veteran director. The "Kartavya" actor said he was thrilled to reunite with the acclaimed director and was especially encouraged by the positive feedback he received from him.
“He’s really quite happy with how it’s come out. I received a few calls from him. He’s a man of very few words and even fewer compliments, but I’ve received more than my fair share from him, which is great”, the actor revealed.
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Reflecting on his approach to performance, Saif recalled a conversation with Shah Rukh Khan during the making of Kal Ho Naa Ho. The actor said Khan offered him a simple but profound insight about who an actor is truly performing for.
“Shah Rukh once asked me, ‘Who’s your first audience that you act for?’ I said, ‘I don’t know, just the camera.’ He said, ‘It’s the director. You act for him. People watch his movies because he’s the storyteller.’”
The lesson stayed with Saif, who said it became especially relevant while working with Priyadarshan. “Of course, I was acting for Priyan,” he said, underscoring the trust he places in a director’s vision.
The conversation also turned to whether Saif, an avid reader with a reputation for exploring diverse creative interests, has ever considered stepping behind the camera himself. While he was quick to dismiss any immediate plans, the actor suggested that the idea is not entirely outside his comfort zone.
“No, no, no,” he laughed when asked about directing. “But I can create atmosphere at home. And I think atmosphere is a really important thing in movies. I like to have it at a dinner table, in a living room and in the spaces I create for myself. That’s not far off from doing it professionally.”
Though Saif stopped short of announcing any directorial ambitions, his comments suggest that the actor sees filmmaking as an extension of something he already enjoys: creating worlds, moods and experiences. For now, however, his focus remains firmly on acting and on delivering what appears to be a much-anticipated collaboration with Priyadarshan.
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