By Subhash K Jha

Born and brought up in a non-conservative westernized atmosphere Saif Ali Khan says he has gone through a life- changing experience while working in Rensil d'Silva's film where the actor gets out of the Saif zone to play an Ismalic fundamentalist.

"The role has not only made me more politically aware it has also made me more religious. I knew a lot of things about Islam. But I was always more spiritual than religious.Working in Rensil's film has made me know more about the religion.

I did a lot of reading on Islam during this film. I was always more spiritual than religious. I always believed in the Higher Power. The one most decisive thing that I learnt had to do with Allah. We tend to presume that to be the Muslim God.

But Allah is the Arab word for the Same God, or the One True God. That, I thought, was a wonderful thing to learn while doing this character. All religions believe in the oneness of God. So what's all the fighting about?

Whether it's Christianity, Islam or Judaism, many of the religions have fought a holy war at one time or another. It's been a part of religious history."

Saif admits doing the character in Rensil's film has changed his perception to life and religion. "It's the most politically relevant character I've played. Though my Langda Tyagi in Omkara was a political creature his politics was subverted.

In Rensil's film I play the Jehadi as a very real and suave gentleman, dressed in very dapper clothes like a college professor, and hence more frightening

As frank as ever Saif says, "Yes I play an Islamic fundamentalist while Vivek Oberoi plays the more moderate Muslim."

Irrfan Khan says being a Muslim he'd never play a terrorist. In fact he turned down Vivek's role in Rensil's film.

"Did he?" drawls Saif quizzically from New York. "To me the whole point of being an actor is to become characters I can't be in real life. My character in Rensil's film is redeemed at the end.

But even if he wasn't I'd still say yes to a role that explores my emotions that lie too deep for fears and tears. My character in Rensil's film has become the way he has because of the way Americans have treated Afghanistan and other Islamic states."

26/11, says Saif, has not affected the way he looks at his character in Rensil's film. "I don't think 26/11 or earlier 9/11 are Islamic acts. No matter what people say I don't think any terrorist is a Muslim. Let's make that distinction very clear. Of course the population of Afghanistan may disagree with me. But I condemn 26/11 as a deed done by non-Muslims."

Putting an end to the title dispute for Rensil d'Silva's film once and for all Saif says, "This film has to be called Jehad. There's no other title for it. But I don't think our producer has the title yet."