An old interview clip of actor Saif Ali Khan has recently resurfaced on the internet, leaving many viewers uncomfortable. In the video, Saif talks about the first time he saw Kareena Kapoor Khan.
But what’s troubling people is the way he remembers her, as a “chhoti ladki” (little girl).
The clip appears to be from a casual chat show, where Saif recalls an early memory from years ago when he was filming at Filmistan Studios in Mumbai. He says he noticed a young girl sitting outside a makeup room, alone and watching him.
“I asked someone who she was, and they said she’s Kareena Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor’s younger sister,” he remembers. “I thought she was very pretty, and I think I liked her from that moment.”
He was already an adult and working in films, while Kareena, by his own description, was just a small girl at the time.
A clip like this hit differently to many netizens, especially when more people are openly questioning power dynamics, age gaps, and how young girls are perceived in professional spaces. To some, his words might come across as romantic nostalgia, but to others, especially women, the moment feels uncomfortable.
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Saif and Kareena eventually fell in love years later, on the sets of the movie ‘Tashan’ in 2008. At that time, both were adults, working actors, and it seemed like a fresh, grown-up romance. They got married in 2012 and are now one of Bollywood’s most talked-about couples. They are often together at events, with their two sons also becoming social media favorites.
However, the video from Saif’s past continues to stir mixed reactions. Many people are asking: Why do older men sometimes romanticize moments that involve very young girls? And why do these stories still get told publicly, often with pride?