Saif Ali Khan recalls experimenting with ‘no intimacy, no kissing’ policy with Kareena Kapoor: ‘Rules never work in relationships’

Kunal Kemmu and Saif Ali Khan opened up about relationships, insecurity and marriage with actresses while speaking to Soha Ali Khan on her podcast. During the conversation, the two actors candidly discussed the misconceptions about being married to an actress and why setting “rules” in relationships may not work.When asked whether there are misconceptions about being married to an actress, Kunal admitted that insecurities can exist, especially in the early stages of a relationship. “I think it depends on how long your relationship has been. In the formative or earlier years, there can be a sense of insecurity as a man if you’re married to an actress. But once you know each other very well and build that comfort, it changes,” he said.He added that every relationship is different and depends on the individuals involved.“It also depends on the kind of people you are, because everyone is different,” Kunal noted.Saif, meanwhile, shared that setting strict rules in a relationship rarely works.“I don’t think rules ever work. The moment you start setting rules, it becomes about control rather than trust. Trust is really about how you feel in a relationship,” he said.The actor also revealed that he and his wife, Kareena Kapoor Khan, once briefly tried setting boundaries around on-screen intimacy.“Some people say things like there should be no intimacy on screen or no kissing, but that kind of arrangement doesn’t always make sense. At one point we did try something like that for a while, but that’s not really the way to handle it, especially if you’re a modern actor,” Saif said.He added that confidence in the relationship helps actors understand that such scenes are simply part of the job.“As Sara Ali Khan once said, the real deal should probably be no kissing off-screen,” he said.Saif also acknowledged that insecurities can surface, especially during the early stages of a relationship.“In the beginning, yes. There is a phase where you test each other and the relationship. When you’re constantly working with people of the opposite sex, shooting songs and scenes together, and spending a lot of time with them, it can play on the other person’s mind,” he said.“Even if you think you’re calm and relaxed, sometimes a certain insecurity can suddenly surface. It doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the other person — it’s just how you are.”He explained that open communication and reassurance from a partner often help couples navigate such moments. According to Saif, reassurance in a relationship doesn’t always have to come through words.“It’s both. The partner can help reassure you, but a lot also depends on where you are emotionally. Sometimes even a small gesture — like a look across the room, an expression, or just a certain vibe — can reassure you that everything is fine,” he said.“It doesn’t have to be constant reassurance, but that connection is important.” Saif concluded by saying that ultimately, emotional security must come from within.“Absolutely. Your peace lies within you. Your confusion, your envy — all of that is within you as well. Your partner might say something to make you feel better temporarily, but unless you find that peace within yourself, it won’t last.”