Saif can marry Kareena: Soha

After Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia and India’s first woman IPS Kiran Bedi, Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan has opted out of the Olympic torch relay in New Delhi on Thursday.

Soha Ali Khan announced her decision here on Tuesday saying she was pulling out of the event citing “very strong personal reasons.”

Significantly, Soha’s decision came on a day when the new Sports Minister M S Gill said he was not in favor of stars or politicians to be associated with the relay on Thursday and those only real athletes should carry the torch.

“I fully support the Olympic relay and am saddened at the disruptions in its path in various parts of the world as well as the violence in Tibet. But I can’t run due to very strong personal reasons,” Soha told reporters.

On suggestions from Sports fraternity that only sportspersons should run the Olympic torch relay, Soha said representatives from various fields belonging to the country through which torch relay passes, should be welcomed to run.

When asked about her forthcoming films, Soha said she was excited about Nishikant Kamat's Mumbai Meri Jaan based on the July 2006 train blasts in Mumbai.

"I play a television journalist and the film takes a hard-hitting look at the media It is a very intense film," she said. Kamat's earlier Marathi movie Dombivili Fast was critically acclaimed and is being remade in many languages.

Soha said at present she was shooting for Dhoondte Reh Jaoge in which she plays a wannabe actress. She said she is also working in UTV's untitled film.

When asked about brother Saif's career and relationship with Kareena Kapoor, Soha said, "If my brother wants to marry her, I am all for it."

On the couple's forthcoming film Tashan, Soha said she liked the promos of the film and was looking forward to see it.

To a question on the 'Kareena' tattoo on her brother's hand, Soha said, "it was a wonderful sign of love and commitment on his behalf."