Eyebrows were raised when Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan decided to move in together before marriage: 'Since I am from the Kapoor khandaan, but I didn’t see anything wrong in it'

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor have been married for over 14 years, but their relationship attracted considerable attention even before they tied the knot in 2012. The couple had reportedly lived together for nearly five years before getting married, a decision that was considered unconventional at the time. Known as ‘Saifeena’, they often found themselves in the spotlight, with their choice to share a home before marriage becoming a talking point. Over the years, Kareena, Saif and their family members have spoken about how they reacted to the decision. While Kareena's family initially had reservations, Saif's mother, Sharmila Tagore, was particularly struck by the actress's candidness about their live-in relationship.In a 2019 conversation with Humans of Bombay, Kareena looked back at the time she spent with Saif on the sets of 'Tashan', where their relationship began. She spoke about how different they were and the influence he had on her. “He’s 10 years older than me and has two kids. But for me, he was just Saif. He helped me heal and love myself. Maybe it was the fact that we’re so different – he’s more private & not ‘Bollywoodised’, but I imbibed that from him. I learnt to balance things and not let them get to me,” she said.Kareena also recalled how Saif first suggested that they move in together. Having dated for some time, he felt they should spend more time together instead of continuing to drop her home every night. The actor subsequently spoke to Kareena's mother about their plans.“We’d been dating for a while, when he said he’s not 25 and can’t keep dropping me home every night. So he told my mom, ‘I want to spend the rest of my life with her. We want to live together.’ My mom was cool with it. It’s so easy with him. Even when we decided to get married, it felt right,” she recalled.However, the decision did invite some criticism, particularly because Kareena belonged to the illustrious Kapoor family. Her father, Randhir Kapoor, is the son of legendary filmmaker and actor Raj Kapoor, while her great-grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor, was among the pioneers of Indian cinema. Her extended family includes actors Shashi Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor. Her mother Babita and sister Karisma Kapoor have also been part of the film industry, while cousin Ranbir Kapoor is among the leading actors of the current generation.In Gunjan Jain's book 'She Walks She Leads', Kareena spoke about why she decided to move out of her mother's home and share a house with Saif. She acknowledged that the decision surprised some people but maintained that she had nothing to hide.“Saif and I moved in together because I was ready to leave my mother’s house, and if he and I did not live together, we would barely meet. There were some raised eyebrows, especially since I am from the Kapoor khandaan. But I was always honest about it.”She also explained why she did not consider living together before marriage an issue, drawing a comparison with the way relationships are approached in the film industry. “In Bollywood, the tried-and-tested formula always works, so why not try and test a relationship? I didn’t see anything wrong in it.”Her sister Karisma Kapoor admitted that the decision had initially taken her by surprise as well. However, she eventually understood that Kareena was following her instincts and making a choice she believed was right.“It was for me too, to some extent. Our family is slightly conservative but then we accepted that this was Bebo: all heart and all sentiment. Besides, she has this incredible ability to always know what is right for her. She is led by emotion and instinct but, touch wood, her decisions have always proved to be positive and wise,” Karisma said.Karisma had previously shared screen space with Saif in films such as 'Hum Saath-Saath Hain', even before Kareena made her acting debut.Saif's mother, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore, had a rather different experience when she discovered that the couple were living together. During her appearance on 'Koffee with Karan' in 2023, she recalled a gathering at her Delhi home where Kareena casually spoke about her life with Saif in front of several guests.“I had friends over, lots of people from Delhi. These two came and were sitting there. I casually said, ‘What’s happening?’ and she (Kareena) said, ‘When Saif woke up in the morning, he told me this…’ giving the impression that they are living together. This is Delhi and these are my friends of my age,” she recalled.Sharmila, who had herself lived with Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, fondly known as Tiger Pataudi, before marrying him in 1968, was amused by how openly Kareena spoke about their arrangement. Comparing the two generations, she said:“I was just thinking how the world has changed. When I was living with Tiger, when I was not married, I would not have said to a room full of people that I am living with him. It would have been a deep, dark secret. Maybe everyone would have known, but I wouldn’t have said it. But she said it so naturally that when I even think about it, I sort of laugh at how simple and sorted she is.”Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor got married in October 2012. They welcomed their first son, Taimur Ali Khan, in December 2016, while their younger son, Jeh Ali Khan, was born in February 2021.Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!