Saif is in LA on-stage blowing kisses to his fans & enjoying the new status of being a stamped personality. He speaks to Subhash K Jha...

Q: Saif how're you coping with the concerts after your operation?
A: I'm doing okay. I've been jet-lagged. I haven't performed much, so it's a bit depressing. They're paying me well, so here I am on stage. I didn't have to come for the concerts. But I did because I wanted to. In fact Sushmita mentioned it on stage.

She said something very cool. She said the show would've been finished if I hadn't come along..I'm not dancing...Maybe I'll play the guitar in my next concert. There's some hectic travelling. But I'm relaxed.

Q: You're feeling guilty?
A: Yeah....At the end of every show I don't even break into a sweat. That's how little I'm doing for the tour. And I ask myself, what the hell am I doing? I had seen how hard Shah Rukh Khan worked during our Temptations tour.

I know it isn't my fault if I had surgery.But they really love me out here. When I see the audiences' response I'm like ... 'Wow! '. They probably feel sympathetic towards me for limping to LA after surgery.

Q: That surgery was sudden!
A: You can say that again! It wasn't laser surgery. The surgeon used a knife on my stomach. But it was really good surgery. I can't think of a better place than Malaysia to fall ill.

The hospital was unbelievably clean, like a 5-star hotel. Also not expensive...not that it mattered at a time like that. But when I saw the hospital bills I didn't baulk.

Q: Your face has been put on an Australian stamp ...
A: I don't think it's a big deal. They just captured a particular moment from the Commonwealth games, and I happened to be part of that moment where India is being represented. I looked up the other stamps on the internet which have been released for the occasion ....

It wasn't like they decided, 'Let's put Saif Ali Khan on the stamp'. I just happened to be there. But yes, I'm excited about it. I've ordered fifty of those stamps. I'll probably frame one in my study. But it isn't like Satyajit Ray being facilitated for his contribution to cinema, or something.

Q: But the spoil-sports say, why him?
A: The spoil-sports--ha, that's a good one—don't realize they weren't celebrating an Indian star. But the spirit of India. So these spoil-sports can just put their fangs away. But it's great fun. Someone asked , why not Rani and Ash? I said I'm much sexier.

Q: The spoil-sports also think you shouldn't have charged huge money at the Commonwaelth games.
A: First of all, it wasn't huge. It was what one normally gets paid to perform at a televised event. And if they didn't wants stars, they could've got routine dancers for a much lesser price. No one pays you until they think you're worth it.

And these people didn't even argue about the money. Perhaps this is the first time we got paid for a government-sponsored event. Maybe that's bothering some people. Not me, though.

Q: Did you enjoy doing the Bhangra with Rani Mukherjee?
A: Oh yes! It was one helluva spectacle. I thought it would be just an ordinary stage peformance. But when I got to the stage in Melbourne I saw eight hundred dancers.

This was the same playing field where my grandfather and father had played cricket. So it was an unbelievable experience....with an unbelievable amount of people.

Q: More people than your grand-dad and dad got together?
A: Actually they got a lot more people. The Australians love cricket.

Q: Do you still regret not being a cricketer?
A: Not any more. I used to regret it until recently. But cricket was never a serious career option.

Q: Until recently you were seen as a frivolous hedonist in your close circle.
A: That, I still am...Okay, no longer so. It's time for me to get serious.

Q: Is Rosa with you in LA?
A: She's has just joined me from England. I think we should get married. My mom thinks we should.