Saif Ali Khan, who recently underwent an emergency appendectomy in Kuala Lumpur, says it is high time he tied the knot with his long-standing girlfriend Rosa.

"I think we should get married. My mom thinks we should," Saif told IANS in an interview.

Currently he is in Los Angeles as part of a concert but he is not allowed to perform and is feeling guilty about it.

"At the end of every show I don't even break into a sweat. That's how little I am doing for the tour. And I ask myself, what the hell am I doing?"

Saif is excited about his face appearing on an Australian stamp. "I'm excited about it. I've ordered 50 of those stamps. I'll probably frame one in my study."

Excerpts:

Q: Is Rosa with you in LA?

A: She's joined me from England. I think we should get married. My mom thinks we should.

Q: Saif, how are you coping with the concerts after your operation?

A: I am doing okay. I have been jetlagged. I haven't performed much, so it's a bit depressing. They are paying me well, so here I am on stage. I didn't have to come for the concerts. But I did because I wanted to.

In fact, Sushmita (Sen) mentioned it on stage. She said something very cool. She said the show would have been finished if I hadn't come along. I am not dancing... Maybe I'll play the guitar in my next concert. There's some hectic travelling. But I am relaxed.

Q: You are feeling guilty?

A: Yeah... At the end of every show I don't even break into a sweat. That's how little I am doing for the tour. And I ask myself, what the hell am I doing? I had seen how hard Shah Rukh Khan worked during our Temptations tour. I know it isn't my fault if I had surgery.

But they really love me out here. When I see the audiences' response I am like... 'Wow!' They probably feel sympathetic towards me for limping to LA after surgery.

Q: That surgery was sudden!

A: You can say that again! It wasn't laser surgery. The surgeon used a knife on my stomach. But it was really good surgery. I can't think of a better place than Malaysia to fall ill. The hospital was unbelievably clean, like a five-star hotel. Also not expensive... not that it mattered at a time like that. But when I saw the hospital bills, I didn't baulk.

Q: Your face has been put on an Australian stamp...

A: I don't think it's a big deal. They just captured a particular moment from the Commonwealth Games, and I happened to be part of that moment where India is being represented. I looked up the other stamps on the Internet, which have been released for the occasion...It wasn't like they decided, 'Let's put Saif Ali Khan on the stamp'.

I just happened to be there. But yes, I'm excited about it. I've ordered 50 of those stamps. I'll probably frame one in my study. But it isn't like Satyajit Ray being felicitated for his contribution to cinema or something.

Q: But the spoilsports say, why him?

A: The spoilsports - that's a good one - don't realise they weren't celebrating an Indian star but the spirit of India. So these spoilsports can just put their fangs away. But it's great fun. Someone asked, why not Rani (Mukerji) and Ash (Aishwarya Rai)? I said I am much sexier.

Q: The spoilsports also think you shouldn't have charged huge money at the Commonwealth Games.

A: First of all, it wasn't huge. It was what one normally gets paid to perform at a televised event. And if they didn't want stars, they could have got routine dancers for a much lesser price. No one pays you until they think you are worth it. And these people didn't even argue about the money. Perhaps this is the first time we got paid for a government-sponsored event. Maybe that's bothering some people. Not me, though.

Q: Did you enjoy doing the bhangra with Rani?

A: Oh yes! It was one helluva spectacle. I thought it would be just an ordinary stage performance. But when I got to the stage in Melbourne I saw 800 dancers. This was the same playing field where my grandfather and father had played cricket. So it was an unbelievable experience...with an unbelievable amount of people.

Q: Do you still regret not being a cricketer?

A: Not any more. I used to regret it until recently. But cricket was never a serious career option.

Q: Until recently you were seen as a frivolous hedonist in your close circle.

A: That I still am...okay, no longer so. It's time for me to get serious.