Saif Ali Khan is a renowned Indian film actor and producer, born to the illustrious actress Sharmila Tagore and the late cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. He made his acting debut in Yash Chopra's drama Parampara (1993),although it was unsuccessful, and later achieved success with his roles in the romantic drama Yeh Dillagi and the action film Main Khiladi Tu Anari (both 1994).
Khan's career trajectory was marked by a decline in the 1990s, with his biggest commercial success during this period being the ensemble drama Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999). However, he rose to prominence with roles in two ensemble comedy-dramas—Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003),which cemented his position as a leading actor in Bollywood.
The 2004 romantic comedy Hum Tum proved to be a turning point in Khan's career, as he played the sole male lead and earned the National Film Award for Best Actor. He went on to star in the drama Parineeta and the romantic comedy Salaam Namaste (both 2005),solidifying his status as a leading actor. His portrayal of an apprentice in the 2006 English film Being Cyrus, a character based on William Shakespeare's antagonist Iago in the 2006 crime film Omkara, and a terrorist in the 2009 thriller Kurbaan earned him widespread critical acclaim.
Khan's greatest commercial success came with the 2008 thriller Race and its 2013 sequel, the 2009 romance Love Aaj Kal, and the 2012 romantic comedy Cocktail. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, including a National Film Award and six Filmfare Awards, and was honored with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award, in 2010.
Khan has been praised for his versatility, having performed in a range of film genres, from crime dramas to thrillers and occasional romances. His film roles have been credited with contributing to a change in the concept of a Hindi film hero. In addition to his film career, Khan is a frequent television presenter, stage show performer, and the owner of the production company Illuminati Films.
Khan was married to his first wife, Amrita Singh, for thirteen years, and later married the actress Kareena Kapoor. He has three children—two with Singh and one with Kapoor.
