A self-confessed "leftwing" non-conformist, Saif Ali Khan almost didn't show up to collect his National Award for best actor for his performance in "Hum Tum".

He was in London with his parents who urged him not to miss out on his moment of glory.

"And you know what? I'm glad I made it," Saif told IANS from Zurich. "Attending the National Awards function (last month) was a truly memorable experience. I got to be in the same room with actors and filmmakers who are considered way out of my league as I am supposed to be out of theirs. There was this actress named Thara who had won the National Award for best actress. Very sweet, sincere and simple...

"There were some funny moments, like this TV channel asking me about the best-actor award going for the first time to a comedy performance... That was a chintzy remark. Arrey, what has that got to do with anything? Should the award only go to grim performances? I don't know whether to take it as a compliment...

"But I've come to be associated with the light hearted happy-go-lucky comic spirit. Even at the National Awards, when I went up to collect my prize someone said, 'I wish Kantabehn was here' (referring to the Kantabehn jokes between Saif and Shah Rukh in 'Kal Ho Na Ho'). I really don't know how to react to such flippant responses to my presence. Am I supposed to take it as a compliment?"

Saif says there were some moments during the function that can truly qualify as priceless.

"I had this really funny run-in with the maker of the film called 'Amu' (Shonali Bose). When she came over to me to ask if I had seen 'Amu' I thought she was referring to my mother.

"Though I found the question strange I politely replied, 'Amma is in London'. Can you beat that? I loved the experience. I did some healthy autograph signing. And, hey, this was the only award I've attended where I got a cash prize of Rs.10,000!"

Was he put off by constant questioning about his worthiness?

"You mean about a comic performance getting the National Award? You know, after a point I didn't feel like justifying it. It was a bit of a damper. But I got to deal with it.

"Now I've stopped being apologetic about my performance in 'Hum Tum' being light to the touch. If it was that way, it was meant to be. And I'm glad it was recognized.

"I feel the commercial film industry is not being recognized enough. I feel honored that a performance which would habitually be thought too light for a National Award managed to win."

On his future plans, he says he has only said yes to Siddharth Anand's next film, which he believes will co-star Rani Mukherjee.

"I'm seriously considering Vishal Bhardawaj's film. As for the Abbas-Mustan film with Tips which I'm supposed to have signed, I haven't said a final yes to it. I've to return and sort out some problems with the producer. I've also heard of some very posh filmmakers wanting to sign me. I can hardly wait to come back."