Taimur to Tandav, biggest Saif Ali Khan controversies and what happened to them

Saif Ali Khan, who is otherwise known for his exceptional acting prowess and intellect, has been embroiled in controversies on several occasions. Here, we talk about the biggest controversies involving Saif.

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Taimur to Tandav, biggest Saif Ali Khan controversies and what happened to them
Saif Ali Khan was recently seen in Ali Abbas Zafar's Tandav.

Amazon Prime Video web series Tandav, which released on January 15, has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The show, which stars Saif Ali Khan in the lead role, was touted to be one of the biggest releases this year, failed to appeal to the audience due to its lackluster storytelling. But the series is surely causing an uproar over its controversial scenes. Needless to say, with Saif Ali Khan at its centre.

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However, this is not the first time Saif Ali Khan has been embroiled in controversy. The actor, who is otherwise known for his exceptional acting prowess and intellect, has managed to invite the wrath of the people for his remarks on several occasions. Here, we talk about the biggest controversies involving Saif Ali Khan.

THE TANDAV CONTROVERSY

Tandav, starring Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Sunil Grover, Kritika Kamra and Gauahar Khan, is receiving flak from the BJP leaders for hurting religious sentiments. BJP leader Ram Kadam criticised Saif Ali Khan and his new web series and asked the viewers to boycott it. He also asked Saif to clarify his stand in the controversy. “Whenever an actor signs a film or a web series, he’s narrated the script. A seasoned actor like Saif Ali Khan would have clearly known what was the content of the series and yet he agreed to do it. So, we have a question for Saif. Why didn’t he say no to such a project where the religious sentiments of Hindus are being hurt? Why didn’t he say such content is inappropriate? So, we want to know what is the position of the talented actor in this regard,” he said. Several FIRs have been filed across the country against the makers, Amazon Prime Video and the actors.

What happened next?

Director of the series Ali Abbas Zafar has issued an unconditional apology for unintentionally hurting sentiments of the people. “The web series Tandav is a work of fiction and any resemblance to acts and persons and events is purely coincidental. The cast and crew did not have any intention to offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead. The cast and crew of Tandav take cognizance of the concerns expressed by the people and unconditionally apologize if it has unintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments," read a part of Ali’s social media statement. While Saif Ali Khan is yet to comment on the situation, Tandav makers have now decided to drop controversial scenes from the show.

SAIF ALI KHAN'S REMARK ABOUT RAVAN

Saif Ali Khan, who will be playing the role of Ravan in his upcoming film Adipurush with Prabhas, stirred controversy when he said that the film will show the ‘humane’ side of Ravan. During an interview with a newspaper Saif said, “It’s interesting to play a demon king, less strictures in that. But we will make him humane, up the entertainment quotient, justify his abduction of Sita and the war with Ram as revenge for what was done to his sister Surpanakha by Lakshman, who cut off her nose (sic)."

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Angered over Saif Ali Khan’s remark, BJP leader Ram Kadam took to Twitter to issue a statement, which read, “Saif Ali Khan makes an extremely shocking statement regarding his forthcoming film Adipurush. Saif who plays Ravan's character says Ravan's abduction of Sita Maa will be justified in the film. Ravan's humane side will be shown and his war against Sri Ram will be justified. @OmRaut director, you made #Tanhaji which was well-received worldwide because it does justice to Hindu pride and Marathi asmita. But if #Adhipurush plans to show Ravan in positive light and justify the inhuman act of abduction of Sita Maa, we will never allow that to happen. Hope better sense prevails."

What happened next?

Saif Ali Khan issued a statement wherein he apologised for hurting people’s sentiments unknowingly. “I’ve been made aware that one of my statements during an interview, has caused a controversy and hurt people’s sentiments. This was never my intention or meant that way. I would like to sincerely apologise to everybody and withdraw my statement. Lord Ram has always been the symbol of Righteousness & Heroism for me. Adipurush is about celebrating the victory of good over evil and the entire team is working together to present the epic without any distortions,” the statement read.

SAIF ALI KHAN'S REMARK ABOUT INDIA

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Saif Ali Khan, in an interview Anupama Chopra over Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, said that there was “no concept of India till the British came along". “It bothers me as an Indian or a human being. Maybe I’d be more careful next time, I don’t think this is history. I am aware of what history was. I don’t think there was a concept of India till the British came along,” he had said. The actor was massively trolled because of his comment.

What happened next?

Though Saif Ali Khan did not directly apologise or release a statement after this one, a source close to the actor told National Herald, “Saif’s honesty has always been a problem. He speaks his mind, and faces the consequences. He recently made it very clear that he didn’t much care for the trailer of his daughter Sara Ali Khan’s next release Love Aaj Kal. Now he has spoken up about the nebulous sense of history in his own starrer Tanhaji.”

WHEN SAIF ALI KHAN NAMED HIS SON TAIMUR

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Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor welcomed their first child on December 20, 2016. While it was a matter of celebration for the couple and their fans, some people weren’t happy with his christening. Some found Saif and Kareena’s baby’s name highly objectionable because of its association with Timur, the founder of the Timurid Empire in Persia and Central Asia who invaded India in 1398. What followed was incessant trolling over this controversial name.

What happened next?

A few months later, both Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan opened up about what they felt about the controversy over their son’s name. "What happened about his name was just ghastly. It was disgusting and I'll never forget it. It has obviously scarred me deeply as a person, as a mother. What I name my child, what I call him, is completely my discretion and of nobody else's concern," Kareena told PTI.

Saif Ali Khan told in an interview to Delhi Times that he had thought about changing his son’s name but Kareena was against it. "I thought for a second about changing his name. For a couple of weeks. And Kareena was a little against it and she said, 'People respect you for your opinion and you can't'... So I said, yeah, but it's not about people. I don't want him to get unpopular. And I still might, maybe when he's one or two, I might change his name in a while, it's still sinking in, what to do,” the actor said two months after his son’s birth. It has been four years since the birth of Taimur and as we know it, Kareena and Saif have not changed their son’s name and that the munchkin is the nation’s heartthrob, no joking.

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