Bollywood titan Saif Ali Khan is renowned not only for his chameleonic acting prowess but for his discerning eye when it comes to the icons from whom he draws inspiration. The luminary recently opened up about his reverence for legendary Hollywood actor Al Pacino, crediting him as a paragon of thespian craft that greatly influences his approach to acting. In a candid episode of “Now Bingeing” by Tata Play Binge, Khan, joined by his equally eminent wife Kareena Kapoor, shared intimate details of their cinematic trajectories and evolving personal narratives.
During the rich exchange, Khan did not hold back his admiration for Al Pacino, asserting the profound impact the actor has made on his understanding of the performance art. “I think anything Al Pacino’s done, maybe Heat or something – I’m a huge Al Pacino fan, I think he’s just a legend. His craft and the way he acts and how he gets into it, I’ve never seen anything come close even. So almost anything he’s done – Scent of a Woman or Heat for example, whenever I see him work, I’m like, I wish I could come close to this level of getting into the work. He’s just too good,” Khan expressed with palpable enthusiasm.
Moreover, Khan delved into his own artistic journey, touching upon the essence of acting craft and technique—a realm he admits having only lightly studied but is deeply intrigued by. Aspiring to understand more deeply the intricacies of performance, Khan’s quest for thespian excellence mirrors the dedication of the roles he undertakes.
Off-screen, Khan recently made headlines with his tricep surgery for an old injury, highlighting not just the demands of his profession but also his resilience. The surgery, which followed long-standing discomfort and intermittent pain, was a corrective response to an aggravated condition, accentuated during the action scenes of his upcoming Telugu film, “Devara,” directed by Koratala Siva. Addressing the media coverage on this personal health matter, Khan was keen to clarify misinformation, emphasizing that the injury was localized to his tricep and unrelated to his knee or back as some reports had suggested.
Reflecting on the disregard he had for the injury initially, Khan admitted to Zoom, “Other times it caused unbearable pain… I didn’t really know how serious the injury was.” Post-surgery, he provided reassurance about his recovery prospects while decrying speculative stories regarding his physical well-being.
Across both his professional and personal narratives, Khan offers a window into the life of an artist perpetually in pursuit of growth and facing the vicissitudes of life with a blend of grace and determination. As audiences anticipate the final episode’s revelations and the outcomes of his surgery, Khan continues to hold both the cinematic lens and the gaze of admirers firmly upon him, inspired by the unparalleled talent of icons like Al Pacino and grounded by the real experiences that shape human endurance and artistic integrity.
