Saif Ali Khan is celebrating his 48th birthday today and the handsome and suave actor is in a good space personally and professionally too. The Nawab of Pataudi had a checkered Bollywood career and has always been in the fringes of superstardom. He earned the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance in Aashiq Awara.
However, most of the films where Saif outshone were two-hero films. Saif is probably one of the most popular actors who has played a supporting actor role in films with most A-list actors.
Here’s a look at his most famous jodis with male co-stars:
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Saif and Aamir
Saif started his career with Aamir Khan in Yash Chopra’s film Parampara. The film failed to find a wider audience at the box office. The two later teamed up in the cult and iconic film Dil Chahta Hai which gave a new lease of life to Saif’s dwindling career. Not known to many, it was on Aamir's insistence that Saif signed DCH.
Saif and Akshay
Saif and Akshay had one of the most successful partnerships on screen. The two first came together onscreen in Yash Chopra’s Yeh Dillagi and followed it up with the highly successful action-comedy film Main Khiladi Tu Anari. The film fetched him his first Best Supporting Actor Award nomination. The duo followed it up Tu Chor Main Sipahi, Keemat: They Are Back, Aarzoo and Tashan.
Saif and Suniel
Saif teamed up with Suniel Shetty for quite a few films, although none of them made a huge mark at the box office. He starred with Suniel in Suraksha, Ek Tha Raja, and Humse Badhkar Kaun.
Saif and Ajay
After Akshay, Saif’s collaboration with Ajay is of significance as one of his career-best performances was given in a film with him. Saif first teamed up with Ajay in Kachche Dhaage and Vishal Bharadwaj’s Omkara which was the adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. His performance as Langda Tyagi is probably his best act.
Saif with Shah Rukh
Saif resurrected his career by collaborating with Shah Rukh and became a household name in comic timing with Kal Ho Naa Ho. The film turned out to be a landmark film in his career and gave him an impetus on his celebrity quotient. They gave the Indian definition of bromance in the film. For years to come, Saif-SRK remained the utmost favourite hosts for any award shows in B-Town, thanks o their palpable chemistry(or say, comic timing).
Saif with Akshaye Khanna
Saif and Akshaye first teamed up in Farhan Akhtar's directorial debut in Dil Chahta Hai. However, both of them were playing second fiddle to Aamir in the film. They later came together in Abbas-Mustan's highly successful Race which saw Akshaye playing the antagonist to Saif's main lead.
Saif is that rare actor who has done more two-hero films or an ensemble cast film than a single-hero project but even then he has managed to shine and invariably carved a niche for himself. He is also an actor who is well-known for his pairing up with male co-stars rather than his chemistry with actresses. Here's wishing the Nawab of Pataudi a very happy birthday!
