Saif Ali Khan on his daughter's career choice

Every few months, there is news that Sara, Saif Ali Khan's daughter with ex-wife Amrita Singh, is getting ready to make her Bollywood debut. It's natural for her to want to be an actress, or at least have an interest in the field, given that both her parents are actors, so is her grandmom Sharmila Tagore Pataudi and her aunt Soha Ali Khan. And if that wasn't enough, then coming in close contact with the diva Kareena Kapoor would have definitely aroused the dormant acting genes in her.

Amrita Singh has denied that her daughter is gearing up for a actng debut. Not that either she or Saif are the kind of parents to have a problem with Sara getting into films.

Says Saif, "Of course, I won't have any problem. It is a wonderful profession. But I would have a problem with her leaving the college and getting into movies. She is currently studying in her second year at Columbia University. One day, she messaged me saying she wants to join movies. It was a slightly strangely-worded message but I replied, 'Yes, but after college.' Then there was some silence. Obviously, she doesn't know what she is saying. Some days, she wants to be a lawyer, someday a doctor, then one day she told me she wants to be working at the White House...Nobody leaves Columbia University! Anyone in the world would give their left arm to go to an Ivy League university. I wish someone would have told her that I would have her shot if she even thinks about leaving college. This degree is your only passport -- from the husband that beats you to a country that collapses economically, you can survive everything. She can get a job anywhere in the world. It would be foolish of her to leave that to act. She can do that after she completes her education. She can't throw this to be stuck working in one profession. That is limiting yourself."

He adds after a pause, "Like if India collapses today, I can't do anything else. I can't suddenly get a job in say, Sweden. And even if I find a job, it probably wont be as well paying as this. But after that degree, Sarah is free to act. if she wants to. I mean, she doesn't have to educate herself for the next six years..she can do another two years at Columbia and then she can do whatever she wants."

So that should permanently put to rest the rumours of Sara getting into films anytime soon. Saif laughs, "Soon there will be news about my son Ibrahim getting into films, if he doesn't stop taking selfies with Varun Dhawan."

He seems to have a great relationship with his kids, given that they don't stay with him. I can't help but ask Saif what sort of father is he. And if he shares a similar relationship with his kids that he did with his late father Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi? "No, he was a slightly Victorian father, even though in his later years, he mellowed a lot. He was solid and dependable. And in some ways, I feel he was a much better father than I am. So he has been a benchmark. I think I talk to them more or they can criticise..I always found it strange that I always had to make an effort to reach out to my father, and I had to make an effort with my son. So there was no rule. It was really weird. Normally, if you say that the youngest makes the effort, then my son should be making it. If you say the eldest makes the effort, then my father should have made the effort. But it is my responsibility to ensure both go fine...actually that's not true...Sara and I..You know because my children live with Amrita, I don't see Ibrahim as much as I should. But the more I am seeing of him now, I think they are both such lovely and great kids. I am a very concerned father. One of the things I am more concerned about, is education. And I am not strict when it comes to Sara's partying or wanting to go out drinking with friends. Because I figure, if she has the brains to go to Columbia, she has the brains to know when to stop doing silly things as well. And university is quite grown up. You don't tell people at university not to have a drink, because they will just do it anyway. Ibrahim is 13 now and it is very crucial right now if he is going to be at all academic or he is going to what to go into sports, and where to send him. we have to figure it out but he is a great kid, and they are both very polite and fun kids if you talk to them. Normal and a little sparkling also." just like their dad.