Unlike many star kids who hit the box-office jackpot with their very first film, Saif Ali Khan was handed with a different fate. Though he easily got the big ticket to Bollywood by being Sharmila Tagore's son but success did not follow and soon he was relegated to second lead of movies throughout the 90's.

But with his ‘never say die' attitude Saif was not to be shelved so easily, the sprightly lad bounced back as a sexy stud in the new millennium with Farhan Akhtar's ‘Dil Chahta Hai'. And then after a long span of time he delivered a solo hit with ‘Hum Tum' and since then never looked back.

Coming from a rocky 90's to the super successful 2000s he has indeed come a long way. His movies like ‘Parineeta', ‘Race', ‘Omkara', ‘Race' and ‘Love Aaj Kal' were appreciated by audience and now all his hard work has been honored by Padmashree Award.

Saif's career graph has been boosted by this honor, and he rightfully claims his share to fame as he says, "I am very proud and honored to have received this honor."

Naturally overjoyed with such honor the ever modest actor thanked all the directors who believed in him and gave him a chance to prove his mettle, he says, "I would like to thank my family and loved ones who have been there for me and the industry for supporting me.

I would particularly like to thank Imtiaz Ali, Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar, Ramesh Taurani, Farhan Akhtar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Siddharth Anand, Kunal Kohli and Vishal Bhardwaj for having the faith in me and making me who I am today."

Though the failure of his last film ‘Kurbaan' may have upset him but this honor will give Saif and his family to celebrate and get over the ‘Kurbaan' failure.