The
recent
hectic
round
of
production-related
activities
and
marketing
culminating
in
the
painful
process
of
pacifying
the
Sikh
federations
about
the
length
of
his
beard,
has
taken
a
toll
on
Saif
Ali
Khan.
The
actor
is
exhausted
and
completely
not
in
the
mood
for
any
more
events
related
to
the
film.
The
premiere
was
held
in
Delhi
instead
of
Mumbai
on
Thursday
night.
This
would
be
construed
as
odd
behaviour
considering
all
of
Saif
and
Kareena's
friends
together
at
a
Mumbai
premiere
would
have
constituted
almost
the
entire
industry.
And
they
were
just
a
phone
call
away.
Says
Saif,
"That's
precisely
why
we
decided
not
to
have
a
premiere
in
Mumbai.
I'd
have
had
to
call
up
everyone
personally
and
ask
them
to
come.
It
would've
seemed
like
asking
for
a
favour.
And
I
don't
want
anyone
to
watch
my
film
out
of
a
sense
of
generosity."
The
last-minute
decision
to
shift
the
venue
of
the
premiere
to
Delhi
kept
most
of
Saif's
colleagues
out.
But
it
didn't
stop
Akshay
Kumar
from
rooting
for
Love
Aaj
Kal
from
London.
Akshay
prophesied
it
would
be
a
big
hit.
Saif
is
delighted.
"I'm
so
happy
Akshay
said
that.
I
wish
the
industry
would
show
more
kindness
towards
films.
When
Kareena's
Kambakkht
Ishq
came,
there
was
so
much
negativity
about
it.
It's
scary."
It's
this
fear
of
an
anticipatory
wail
that
provoked
Saif
to
transfer
the
premiere
venue.
"It
wasn't
really
a
premiere
in
Delhi.
Just
a
screening
for
people
close
to
us," clarifies
Saif.
"Only
the
cast
and
crew
and
people
connected
with
the
film
were
there.
That's
the
way
we
wanted
to
keep
it."
But
Saif
and
Kareena's
friends
in
Mumbai
are
none
too
pleased.
One
of
his
leading
ladies
with
whom
he
recently
did
a
racy
film
says,
"What's
the
point
of
a
premiere
in
Delhi
when
the
whole
industry
is
in
Mumbai?
I'd
have
definitely
gone,
for
Saif
and
Imtiaz
Ali's
sake.
I
want
to
see
what
they've
done
together."
But
Saif
isn't
really
bothered.
It
has
been
a
hectic
time
for
him.
"Earlier
producers
like
Ramesh
Taurani
made
me
do
a
lot
of
publicity
for
their
films.
Now
I
totally
followed
that
model
for
my
own
production.
And
I'm
exhausted.
When
I
was
younger,
I
found
publicity
boring.
Now
I
know
better."
The
experience
of
producing
a
film
has
helped
Saif
understand
the
value
of
economizing.
"I
used
to
waste
a
lot
of
money
and
I'm
not
proud
of
it.
It's
not
about
cutting
corners.
It's
an
art
to
respect
money.
I've
seen
my
wealthy
friends
buying
the
right
air
tickets,
booking
the
right
room
at
the
best
possible
prices.
We
did
go
a
tiny
bit
over-budget
in
my
first
production.
Next
time
it
won't
happen."
Story first published: Thursday, June 7, 2012, 11:46 [IST]