Saif Ali Khan says working with Shah Rukh Khan changed his career

Saif Ali Khan spoke about Shah Rukh Khan's drive, self-belief and behind-the-scenes rigour ahead of Kartavya. He said those qualities built SRK's enduring stature and shaped his own understanding of stardom.

In Short

• Saif said SRK's early clarity and ambition set him apart in cinema
• He recalled SRK demanding top pay, backed by complete self-belief
• Hosting award shows together, Saif saw him rewrite scripts all night

Ahead of Kartavya release on Netflix, produced by Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment, actor Saif Ali Khan opened up about his long-standing admiration for the superstar, praising not just his stardom but also the passion, confidence, and relentless work ethic that built his legacy.

Speaking to IndiaToday, Saif reflected on SRK’s journey from an ambitious outsider to the face of Bollywood. “What I admire about him is his energy, his drive, and his lovefor cinema. Also, how he has the vision, approach, confidence, and clarity ofthought right from the beginning. He wasn’t weighed down by convention orniceties,” he said.

'SRK built his empire solely on conviction'

According to him, SRK's self-belief is reflected in every aspect of his career, including how he negotiated his worth with major production houses.

“And then he asked for the kind of money, at the time. I feel conscious telling these stories, butit was a phenomenal ask with big production houses. He said, ‘I’m completely worth it, and I have the best body language of any actor in India," Saif said.

The Hum Tum actor said it was this unwavering conviction that helped SRK create the empire he has today. “There were these comments made, and this very strong belief. So I admire that, what he made of himself and how he created a phenomenal empire. He’s hugely, hugely successful and has defined an entire well, more than a generation.”

He further added that when someone looks up Bollywood, they would see a picture of him in thedictionary, and there's no bigger achievement than that.

'Can do a whole podcast on SRK’

The actor also fondly remembered the many award shows they hosted together, including IIFA andFilmfare, revealing how SRK would constantly work on improving scripts andsegments. “Yes, we hosted a lot of shows together. He would say, ‘You know,this stuff is a bit boring. Let’s write it this way,’ and then be up all night nightrewriting the script. He would work on it again, and again. That's passion,”Saif recalled.

He even hinted that there’s much more he could say about SRK’s process behind the scenes. Saif laughed to add that he could even have a podcast just talking about the Badshah, and how he's different from others.

‘Working with SRK in Kal Ho Naa Ho prepped me to become a lead actor’

The Kartavya actor took a stroll down the memory lane and recalled working with King Khan in Kal Ho Naa Ho, calling it a learning experience that shaped his own understanding of stardom and leadership on set. He said, “It was entirely my privilege to have the chance to work with him in Kal Ho Naa Ho, in such a nice role. And it kind of prepped me on how to be the main lead in a movie because I saw all the very extra things he does."

Recalling a hectic shoot at Grand Central Terminal in New York, Saif remembered how SRK effortlessly stepped in and took charge when things became chaotic:

“I think Karan was a bit overwhelmed when we were shooting at Grand Central Station in New York,and it was crowded. And he (SRK) said, ‘Okay, hang on. You do this, you do that, let's place the camera here'. He just took control, and we finished it in time."

For Saif, it is this passion for cinema, especially the unseen work behind the scenes, that truly separates Shah Rukh Khan from everyone else.

Kartavya follows Pawan, played by Saif, a police officer who comes under scrutiny after a journalist is shot while under his watch. As pressure mounts from his senior officers, he is drawn into a manhunt for the attacker, pulling him into a web of power, influence, and deception.

The film is currently streaming on Netflix.

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