Many top actors were recently seen performing at the viral wedding in Udaipur, with names like Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh and Janhvi Kapoor taking the stage. At another high-profile wedding, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan were seen dancing with the bride and groom. While several A-list actors continue to perform at weddings, Saif Ali Khan has largely stayed away from such gigs.
In a recent interaction, Saif spoke about his decision, clarifying that while he does not judge actors who dance at weddings, he admitted that such performances no longer suit him or his age. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Saif shared that he did not mind dancing at weddings when he was younger. However, coming from a royal family, he recalled being once humiliated by his aunt for performing at a wedding within the same social circle. He said, “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 further explained the conflict between being a movie star and belonging to elite social circles. He 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. You shouldn’t be too close to…”
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When asked if dancing at weddings corrupts an actor, Saif replied, “No in fact, it should be great because what shouldn’t happen is you shouldn’t do films for money.” He admitted that he once danced at a wedding in Portugal and enjoyed the experience. He said, “I dance 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.”
Saif acknowledged that while he took up wedding appearances when he was younger, it no longer appeals to him. He said, “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. I’m sure other actors like that.”
The actor also spoke about how the value of stardom is diminishing in today’s age, largely due to constant visibility on social media. He said, “I just feel in today’s time with everything on Instagram, which I think is so dangerous in a sense that you are diminishing all the time by just being seen here or by doing that.” He added, “People are not surprised to see any movie actors anymore, but I think of an Ajay Devgn still sometimes who is a slightly more private kind, and I am excited to see him on film because the currency has become that little distance.”
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Saif further admitted that paparazzi culture has also impacted a star’s value. He said, “Even the Paparazzi, bless them, every time you’re shot by them. I feel you have been diminished because you are seen yet again and not always in the most exciting way.”
