The esteemed Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan recently graced the screens in the latest season of the trendy chat show ‘Koffee With Karan,’ alongside his renowned mother, actress Sharmila Tagore. In a candid moment during the episode, viewers learned of a fascinating narrative revolving around Saif’s initial days in Mumbai, involving none other than the legendary lyricist, writer, and poet Gulzar Sahab.
The narrative unfolded as Karan Johar, the show’s enigmatic host, peeled back layers from Saif’s past. He divulged that following his university years, Saif dabbled in Indian advertising with a notable hair commercial that essentially anchored him in the vibrant city of Mumbai. It was at this juncture that Sharmila Tagore called upon an old friend, Gulzar, allowing her son to lodge at the writer’s residence during his nascent Bollywood journey.
Saif, with his trademark candor, detailed the startling encounter resulting from his stay at Gulzar Sahab’s house. He reminisced about his youthful days, a time when he was merely 19 or 20, reveling in the city’s night scene. “I stayed there a couple of days. One day I went out. I came back a little late, or rather a little early in the morning, and Gulzar Sahab was up,” he recounted. This sobering moment saw a young Saif returning home to find the venerated poet in a state of morning tranquility, crisply dressed, and immersed in his music rehearsals or ‘riyaz.’ Gulzar Sahab’s shock upon seeing the young actor at that unconventional hour was palpable, leading to a memory that etched itself in Saif’s mind.
Delving deeper into his humorous sojourn at Gulzar’s household, Saif let slip another revelation which added a tinge of drama to the otherwise serene scenario. He brought up the incident concerning Gulzar’s daughter, Meghna Gulzar—who is now celebrated in her own right as the director of the esteemed biographic drama ‘Sam Bahadur.’ Saif exposed with a jest that Meghna was made to shift out upon his arrival. “There was some kind of warning given that, ‘This guy is coming’,” he said, indicating the stir his stay caused within the sanctity of Gulzar Sahab’s residence.
Despite its light-hearted delivery, the tale offers a glimpse into the intertwined lives of Bollywood’s glitterati and the respect accorded to industry veterans such as Gulzar by starlets and their families. The dynamics of Saif’s early days under the mentorship and watchful eye of such an iconic figure illuminate the industry’s fabric, where personal and professional lives often mingle.
Hosted annually by Karan Johar, ‘Koffee With Karan’ has become synonymous with star-studded revelations and gossip straight from the heart of the Hindi film industry. Season 8 of the show promised to unlock more such intriguing anecdotes and is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, allowing fans to catch a more intimate view of their favorite celebrities.
As with many celebrity highlights shared on this show, the reverberations of this particular snippet of Saif’s life story offer entertainment value to the viewers, but also showcase an underlying camaraderie and support system that has long characterized Bollywood’s fraternity.
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