Studies the Vedas to understand caste inequality so he can understand his character better

After studying the Holy Quran for Kurbaan, Saif Ali Khan is now studying the Vedas for Prakash Jha's Aarakshan, in which he plays a youth from a socially backward class.

The director is apprising the Chota Nawab on the genesis of socio-econonic inequality and the rise of job-reservations in India. Intense research sessions and discussions are on at least thrice a week between Jha and SAK.

Kahani Kuch Aisi Hai...
In Aarakshan, Saif, the rebel from the grassroots, is a lecturer at the same college where he was once a student. He is in love with the upper-caste principal Amitabh Bachchan's daughter Deepika Padukone.

Dekh Bhai Dekh
A look-test was recently done on Saif. Though Prakash Jha is not willing to reveal Saif's look in Aarakshan, we learnt that he has lost his beefy look and is wearing a leaner sinewy gaunt look of a "famished fighter." And a moustache.

Study in contrasts

Jha says, "Saif plays an educated man from an underprivileged class. Outwardly, he seems like the last candidate to play such a socially and economically backward character.

He is from the super-elite crust of social hierarchy and he looks the part."

However, he didn't doubt for a second, his ability to get into the skin of his character. "I've seen him transform into a character in earlier films like Omkara. He has amazing malleability. And he's a keen learner."

Learning history

The director continues, "To understand the roots and motivations of his character I took him back to the Vedas and then from there, through the whole history of the caste system, the inequalities that it engendered, Jayaprakash Narayan's students' movement, Mandal Commission, job reservations, etc. Saif is spending intense hours getting to know the history of his character."

This dream role fell into Saif's lap after Ajay Devgn upped his price reportedly to Rs 12 crores and opted out of Aarakshan.