Koffee With Karan 8: Saif Ali Khan, Sharmila Tagore share insight into their Nawabi life

Koffee With Karan 8: Sharmila Tagore made her Koffee debut with her son Saif Ali Khan. This is also the first time that the mother-son duo has appeared together on screen. From Saif's childhood, his rocky first marriage to Sharmila's bikini controversy, the mother-son duo shared several anecdotes from their personal life (All Pics/ Disney+Hotstar)

Updated On: 2023-12-28 02:17 PM IST

Compiled by : Athulya Nambiar

Saif Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore

Saif Ali Khan's rocky start in the movies 

Saif was first signed by Rahul Rawail for 'Bekhudi'. He was later replaced in the film citing a lack of professionalism and commitment.  Rawail had told Saif that no one would work with him. However, Yash Chopra showed faith in Saif and signed him for 'Parampara'. Looking at Yash Chopra signing Saif, the offers began to flow in for the actor

Sara talks about father Saif Ali Khan: 

In a pre-recorded video, Sara appreciated Saif and declared him to be the coolest dad out there. She shared, "He's a great father, friend, philosopher, and guide. He’s a cool dad to all of us. He’s a wholesome person. Whether it’s cooking, guitar classes, or spending quality time with his kids, there’s a lot to his life apart from just being a brilliant actor, which he is; there is a lot to his life. He’s is very inspiring."

Sharmila Tagore refused Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani:

Karan Johar revealed that Sharmila was his first choice to play the role essayed by Shabana Azmi in his film. Responding to Karan, the veteran actress said, “This is at the height of Covid. They hadn’t really grappled with Covid at that time. They didn’t know the vaccine… We were not vaccinated. You know, after my cancer. So, they didn’t want me to take that risk.” This is the first time Sharmila mentioned her battle with cancer

The secret wedding of Amrita and Saif:

Tagore also recalled Saif marrying Amrita Singh without informing anyone. “I was visiting Mumbai. Saif met me and said, ‘I have something to tell you,’ and then he told me. I was [initially] quiet and then said, ‘Okay, we will talk about it later.’ After he left, I rang Tiger [Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi], told him and there was a long silence.” The veteran actor added that when they met Singh, they took an instant liking to her

The 'not so harmonious' split:

Sharmila then addressed the 'not so harmonious time' that followed after the split."When you are together for such a long time and you have such lovely children, then no break up is easy. Then it is not harmonious... I know it is difficult to have harmony at that stage, everybody is hurt... so that stage was not nice but I tried. But that's water under the bridge, she needed time to cool down"

When Gulzar was Saif Ali Khan's guardian in Mumbai: 

Sharing the incident Saif said, “I stayed there a couple of days. One day I went out. I was 20-19 at the time. So, I came back a little late or rather a little early in the morning and Gulzar sahab was up and I was horrified to see him. He was in a crisp white kurta pyjama, playing the sitar and doing the riyaz and he was horrified to see me coming home at this time.” Saif further mentioned that Gulzar’s daughter, Meghna was made to move out of his house like a warning of "this guy coming"

Sharmila's reaction to Saif and Kareena living together: 

Sharmila revealed that Kareena's direct nature quite impressed her. Recalling an incident, Sharmila said Kareena and Saif came to visit her when she was at home with her friends from Delhi. Kareena was talking to her casually and the line began with 'When Saif woke up today, he told me...." hinting at them living together. Tagore said that it was not something that people spoke about in public even if a couple lived together before marriage. However, Kareena's open and honest attitude impressed her

Sharmila expresses Putra-moh: 

KJo asked Sharmila if Saif was a brat growing up. The actress, who admitted of her “putra-moh”, took Saif’s side, and said: “I wouldn’t say he was a brat but he caused anxiety all around. I never quite knew what he was up to. Once he was playing with bows and arrows with his cousin and the tip of the arrow went into his eye, his cornea got…Now everybody that looks at him says that there is a scar there.” That’s when Saif chimed in, “I couldn’t see out of one eye properly and people would say that I am copying my father because my father couldn’t see out of one eye"

The famous bikini shoot: 

Sharmila Tagore created quite an uproar when she appeared in a bikini for a magazine photoshoot in the mid-sixties. Talking about the controversy around it, Tagore said, "Yes the photographer was slightly worried. I just thought I looked very nice. What had really hurt me later was that everybody had interpreted in such a way, that I was upwardly mobile, I was trying to catch eyeballs. I didn't feel like that." She recalled being reprimanded by filmmaker Shakti Samanta, but gaining support from her husband Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (aka Tiger). "I think questions were raised in the Parliament. It was not pleasant for me. But learning I did. And after that I was very careful. I chose Aradhana," she added

The first meet of Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan

In a pre-recorded video, Kareena gushed, "Saif is my whole being, my universe. He is my Saif." She also revealed how they met for the first time. "My favorite memory will always be the first time I met Saif. We were shooting in Ladakh, and he was sitting shirtless on top of the vanity van. I looked up and said, who is this? They said that's Saif"

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