Saqib Saleem Says He Wanted To Become 'Shah Rukh Khan' But Instantly Got A Reality Check

Saqib Saleem is one of those actors who is happy with the OTT boom as actors are getting work unlike earlier times. He has been in the industry for 9 years now, and has done some amazing work and got recognition for the same.

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Saqib started at the age of 22 and he was quite gutsy to play the role of gay in Karan Johar¡¯s Bombay Talkies. He played Randeep Hooda¡¯s love interest.

After that, he did some of impressive projects like Hawa Hawai, Rangbaaz, Crack Down and Comedy Couple and has been appreciated for the same.

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Indiatimes had a candid conversation with Saqib and spoke about what made him to do a gay role 9 years back and how has his career shaped up so far.

To begin with Saqib talks about the reservations he had playing gay in Bombay Talkies, ¡°I think it¡¯s one of my most special films I did, because while shooting Bombay Talkies, I realised what acting is called. In Bombay Talkies I was playing a character which I was not, I had no understanding of that world, I was 22, immature, I didn¡¯t understand anything, but this film really broaden my horizon in understanding life, I got a lot of love for that film, everybody spoke about how gutsy I was to play a gay character at the age of 22 when people in mainstream cinema don¡¯t.

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I was worried that if I play gay, audience will start thinking that I¡¯m gay in real, and because of that I won¡¯t get work.

Talking about the discomfort he said, ¡°I was worried that if I play gay audience will start thinking that I¡¯m gay in real, and because of that I won¡¯t get work.

But I spoke to Huma Qureshi and Aditya Chopra to clarify my doubts, and they both told me that I am stupid to be thinking like that. I had a discomfort initially to play gay, but I did it. Also knowing the fact Karan Johar is directing it, he will be very sensible about it.¡±

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When I started my career I was about 20 year old and all I wanted to be was Shah Rukh Khan

Saqib has seen his struggle and talking about the same, he said, ¡°When you start your career, you have different understanding of the world. When I started my career, I was about 20 yea old and all I wanted to be was the Shah Rukh Khan. I am that boy from Delhi who came and conquered. And while you go through your journeys, you realise you are NO Shah Rukh Khan, everybody¡¯s journey is different. All I have got to do in this life is be Saqib Saleem and be the best version of myself. My job is to find work and what is good for myself, what happens to that work, whether I becomes super flop, blockbuster, is not in my control. What I can control is to find good work and give my best, so that¡¯s my strategy in last 3 years.¡±

Now we can¡¯t complain of not having opportunities

Talking about the OTT boom, Saqib said, ¡°I am really enjoying this phase, because I am getting a lot of exciting characters, though that wouldn¡¯t be for theatrical business because that is slightly considered niche or may be not on the main stream, but then on OTT platform such content works. So as an actor I am elated with OTT platform, because now we can¡¯t complain there is no good work. There is lots of good work and opportunities for everyone.¡±

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You can¡¯t blame any person to be born in any actor¡¯s house

Saqib gives a justified answer on nepotism and favouritism debate,

"You can¡¯t blame any person to be born in any actor¡¯s house. How difficult was it for god to make me born in Shah Rukh Khan¡¯s house but nai kia na, ab Shah Rukh Khan, and in his family someone wants to be an actor, so why will he not help that person? It¡¯s wrong to help your friends and family? But the industry that we are in, the audiences will tell you in the first film only that it isn¡¯t working bro, no matter what you do.

Better than complaining, we should focus on our skills and work on yourself and become so good that nobody can stop you from what you want. Why blame others? It¡¯s your journey. And now the time we are in, there are ample opportunities, so now we should just stop complaining and work.¡±

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Saqib will be next be seen in Kabir Khan¡¯s 83 with Ranveer Singh.