The early 2000s were a defining period for Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan, who rose to prominence and established himself as a successful actor. One of his most beloved releases from that time was Hum Tum (2004), a Kunal Kohli directorial that earned Saif a National Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The film's on-screen chemistry between Saif and Rani Mukerji, its music, and dialogues made Hum Tum a cult classic. However, many actors turned down the lead role in Hum Tum before Saif Ali Khan was cast, including Hrithik Roshan.
In a recent interview, filmmaker Kunal Kohli revealed that Hrithik Roshan loved the script but rejected it due to a lack of confidence. Hrithik was concerned about how his character in Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003) would be received. Additionally, Kohli stated that Vivek Oberoi was also considered for the role but kept backing out for various reasons. Saif Ali Khan was eventually cast in the lead role and went on to win the National Award for his performance.
However, Saif's win was met with criticism, with some arguing that Shah Rukh Khan or Amitabh Bachchan were more deserving of the award. In response to these allegations, Saif Ali Khan clarified that his mother, Sharmila Tagore, did not influence the decision. He stated that if his mother could have given him the award, she would have done so much more for him.
On the film front, Saif Ali Khan will next be seen in Haiwaan alongside Akshay Kumar.
