Actor Saif Ali Khan has spoken candidly about stepping back from performing at weddings. In a recent interview, he explained that what once felt natural earlier in his career now feels less fitting.
Saif clarified that this is a personal choice and not a judgment on others. He recalled being at ease with wedding performances when he was younger, but said that his upbringing and age had gradually influenced his perception.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he shared a memorable incident. “I was dancing at a wedding once in Bombay and my aunt, my father’s sister, who is quite a regal lady, came backstage, and said, ‘Don’t tell me you are dancing at this wedding’. So there is a bit of that. You can’t you know, but if you see yourself as an entertainer, and if there is no family connection or an aunt to humiliate you for doing it, then it’s fine,” he said.
He described the discomfort that can arise when an actor is part of the same social circle as the wedding guests. Saif said, “That dichotomy between being a movie actor and being also the member of that society that’s having the wedding, there is sometimes a disconnect. The platform should always treat you as a star.”
Addressing whether such performances impact an actor’s credibility, he said, “No, in fact, it should be great because what shouldn’t happen is you shouldn’t do films for money.”
Saif recounted positive memories of performing at weddings abroad, contrasting them with the experience in India.
“I danced at a wedding in Portugal and it was amazing. There was this stage in this guy’s wonderful villa. Something about it makes it feel alright when it is abroad and done in a certain way. There is something about doing it in Haryana, that’s a little more public or a little more intense. I just feel you should be discerning about how much of yourself you give out,” he said..
He noted that such appearances were more common earlier in his career, often seen as part of the job for actors when wealthy hosts invited them to perform.
“It’s great when a billionaire comes to town, and he wants 20 actors to perform. We have all done it at Ramesh Bhai’s wedding or somebody and got paid a bomb. Maybe today, it doesn’t fit into things that I am massively comfortable doing, but that’s just me,” the actor added.
Saif was last seen in the 2025 film Jewel Thief, alongside Jaideep Ahlawat and Nikita Dutta.
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