Bollywood’s romantic hero, who once turned down a film for his girlfriend, managed to revive his career spectacularly by embracing the role of a villain. The actor had a chance to debut alongside Kajol, but the director issued him an ultimatum: choose between his girlfriend and the film. In a moment of ‘dilemma’, the actor opted for his girlfriend, leading to a dramatic start to his career. Initially, he found success as a romantic hero, but when his career began to decline, he earned accolades for his performance as a villain. This actor not only captivated audiences with his acting but also made headlines with the ups and downs of his life. Known as Bollywood’s ‘Chhote Nawab‘, his name evokes an image of royal style and unparalleled talent. Saif Ali Khan’s 55th birthday is on August 16. In an interview, Saif Ali Khan, a member of the Pataudi family, recounted the story of his struggle in the film industry, including being dropped from his first movie. He revealed that he was removed from the 1992 film ‘Bekhudi‘. Saif Ali Khan’s film career officially began in 1993 with Yash Chopra’s ‘Parampara’, which unfortunately failed at the box office. Before this, he was supposed to debut with Kajol in Rahul Rawail’s ‘Bekhudi‘. He mentioned that the director had clearly told him, “Leave the girlfriend or leave the film.” Saif chose his girlfriend over the film, a decision that marked a major setback at the start of his career. Born on August 16, 1970 in Delhi, Saif Ali Khan comes from a royal and cinematic lineage. His father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, was a former captain of the Indian cricket team, and his mother, Sharmila Tagore, was a renowned actress in Hindi cinema. He was educated at Lawrence School, Sanawar, and later at Locker Park School and Winchester College in the UK. However, he admitted that academics never really interested him. Saif Ali Khan’s acting journey was marked by ups and downs. The 1990s saw him struggle with numerous unsuccessful films like ‘Aashik Aawara‘ and ‘Pehchaan‘. However, 1994’s ‘Yeh Dillagi‘ and ‘Main Khiladi Tu Anari‘ earned him significant recognition. The films ‘Kacche Dhaage‘ and ‘Hum Saath-Saath Hain‘ in 1999 provided a new direction for Saif’s career. His performances in ‘Dil Chahta Hai‘ (2001), ‘Kal Ho Na Ho‘ (2003), and ‘Hum Tum‘ (2004) solidified his status as a romantic hero, earning him a National Award. Among his notable works, ‘Omkara‘ (2006) stands out, where his portrayal of the negative character Langda Tyagi gained considerable acclaim. Saif Ali Khan’s personal life also attracted media attention. He married actress Amrita Singh in 1991, and they have a daughter, Sara, and a son, Ibrahim. Their marriage ended in 2004. In 2012, Saif married Kareena Kapoor, and they have two sons, Taimur and Jahangir.