An Accidental Villain

SAQIB SALEEM LEAVES SRIJITA SEN IMPRESSED WITH HIS FRANK AND CANDID REPLIES TO HER PROBING QUESTIONS

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Saqib Saleem describes himself as an “accidental actor,”. His journey to Mumbai more than a decade ago was motivated by love. He had promised his father in Delhi that if things didn’t work out, he would return to join the family business. However, fate had different plans. With a bit of luck and encouragement from the right people, Saqib found himself stepping into the world of films. He slowly made a mark for himself as a dependable actor. I have the pleasure of meeting him post the release of Citadel: Honey Bunny, where he took on the challenging role of an antagonist for the first time. Before we dive into our conversation, Saqib tells me he has been an avid reader of Filmfare growing up and still keeps some of the decade-old issues at his family home in Delhi. He reflects on his journey from a cricket-loving Delhi boy to an actor driven by a deep passion for his craft. More than just his acting, Saqib speaks candidly about his aspirations, expressing his desire to continue acting for as long as he can, until his very last breath…

Citadel: Honey Bunny is part of a globally popular franchise. How does it feel to be a part of this universe?

It feels fantastic. When I started acting, I never thought I would be doing something like this twelve years down the line. I never imagined I'd be involved in a show with so many fascinating people attached to it, whether it's the Russo Brothers, Raj & DK or this massive cast cutting across so many countries. I'm excited and exhilarated to be a part of it. Action is a genre I enjoy watching, and the way they've shot the action was fascinating. Varun and I would wake up every day excited thinking we would get to do action scenes. As guys, you love that, right?

So I’m grateful for the opportunity and humbled by the love I’m receiving for it.