In the annals of Bollywood history, there are certain films that stand out for their boldness, their willingness to push boundaries, and their ability to spark conversations that reverberate through society. One such film is Kundan Shah’s ‘Kya Kehna,’ a groundbreaking masterpiece that dared to tackle the taboo subject of single motherhood head-on. At the heart of this cinematic gem is the indomitable Preity Zinta, who delivered a powerhouse performance as a teenager grappling with the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy and the societal stigma that accompanies it. But alongside Zinta’s stellar portrayal, there was another actor who left an indelible mark on audiences – Saif Ali Khan.
Here’s Saif and Preity from the iconic film,
In ‘Kya Kehna,’ Saif essayed the role of a negative character with aplomb, earning praise for his nuanced performance. However, what many may not know is that Saif’s casting in the film was nothing short of serendipitous, as revealed by producer Kumar Taurani of Tips Films in a recent interview with The Music Podcast. According to Taurani, they had initially cast another actor for the role, only for him to back out at the last minute, leaving the production team scrambling to find a replacement. Faced with a looming deadline and no actor in sight, the team turned to Saif Ali Khan as their last hope. Without wasting a moment, they paid a visit to Saif’s residence that very evening and pitched him the script. And much to their relief, Saif agreed to come on board without hesitation. But here’s where things get interesting – with no time to arrange a wardrobe for Saif, the production team made a bold decision. They asked the actor to bring his own clothes for the shoot, selecting outfits from his personal collection on the spot. As Taurani recounted, “We asked him to show us your clothes. We selected his clothes and we told him to please bring these clothes and come to the set tomorrow and we started shooting.”
And the rest, as they say, is history. Saif Ali Khan’s impromptu wardrobe selection may have been born out of necessity, but it added a layer of authenticity to his character that resonated with audiences.