The son of actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Saif Ali Khan was to be launched with Kajol in Rahul Rawail’s Bekhudi (1991). But he was chucked out of the film even before the film took off because of his “casual ways”. He fought his way back into the limelight with Aashiq Awara two years later in 1993, which won him Filmfare’s Best Newcomer of the year award. Aashiq Awara, however, bombed at the box-office. As did Parampara, where he appeared along side Aamir Khan, released the same year. Unfortunately, the success of Main Khiladi Tu Anadi (1994) and Yeh Dillagi (1994) that followed, where he played second fiddle to Akshay Kumar, branded him as a ‘useful’ second lead. In Yeh Dillagi, he danced brilliantly to the peppy chart-topper ‘Ole ole…’. With much-hyped films like Sanjay Gupta’s Hameshaa (1997) co-starring Kajol and Milan Luthria’s Kachche Dhaage (1999) failing at the box-office, Saif’s career was on the skids. Kachche Dhaage saw him balance Ajay Devgan's reclusive character with his flair for comedy even as he sustained the intensity of his own part. He was noticed in Sooraj Barjatya's mult-starrer Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999) too. His long wait for the elusive turning point ended with Farhan Akhtar’s debut film Dil Chahta Hai (2003). Sharing the honours with two other outstanding actors, Aamir Khan and Akshaye Khanna, Saif came up with a brilliant performance in the role of an incorrigible flirt who falls for every pretty girl in sight. It marked the beginning of a distinguished phase in Saif’s career. He won the National Award for the best Actor for his performance in Hum Tum in 2004. The commercial success of the solo-hero film was a major boost to Saif’s credentials as a star. He came up with more award-winning performances in Pradeep Sarkar’s Parineeta (2005) and Vishal Bharadwaj’s Omkara (2006), playing contrasting characters. While he was an introverted lover in Parineeta, he was awesome in a downright negative role in Omkara. He was as impressive in Kal Ho Na Ho.

Imtihaan (1994), Sambandh (1995), Suraksha (1995), 'Bambai Ka Babu' (1996), Tu Chor Main Sipahi (1996),  'Arzoo' (1998). And his only major solo feature, 'Hameshaa' (1997) merely sealed his fate by turning out to be the biggest flop of the year.