Mumbai: January 28, 2010 - Saif Ali Khan shows supreme confidence. It perhaps comes from a sense of knowing precisely where he is headed in life.

Of course, his career hasn’t been a flat ride in the last three months. There has been a speed-breaker called Kurbaan; but honestly, superstars don’t get stunned by the odd hiccup. And when you see Saif, calm, composed, confident... you realise he is now moving in another space.

Glad about having bagged the fourth highest national honor, the Padma Shri, the 39-year-old actor says, “I’m thrilled. It is a lovely feeling. When I heard the news, I thought it is an honour that should perhaps have been given to someone slightly more senior. However, that was a fleeting thought. Seconds later I was rejoicing. I also think the success of Love Aaj Kal last year has something to do with this honour. Honours are gratifying because I don’t go out of my way to organise awards.’’

He remembers how he felt slightly shortchanged when Filmfare gave him the trophy as Best Actor in a Comic Role for Hum Tum but gave his co-star, Rani Mukherjee, the Best Actress award the same year. “I accepted it because I value Filmfare. It was a bit odd that I was chosen as the Best Comic actor. However, when I received the National Award for the same film, I felt vindicated,’’ he says.

That apart, Saif knows that this certainly is a phase of his life and career that he must celebrate. “Besides thanking the obvious people like my family and loved ones for being with me through it all and in my moment of glory, I must thank a whole load of filmmakers without whom I wouldn’t be in this cushy position,’’ he says. “Be it Yash Chopra, Karan Johar, Aditya Chopra, Imtiaz Ali, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Ram Gopal Varma, Vishal Bharadwaj, Sriram Raghavan, Ramesh Taurani, Kunal Kohli or Siddharth Anand, all of these film-makers have contributed to my career.’’