Saqib Saleem: I have learned how to not act from Huma!

We got talking with Saqib Saleem ahead of the release of his film Dobaara on 2nd June, which features his onscreen and offscreen sister Huma Qureshi as well. Here are a few questions that he answered for us:

Tell us about your character.

The character that I play is that of a man who was sent to a juvenile home as a boy due to some incidents that had happened in his childhood. He was set free after 12 years. He is made to believe that there are no ghosts, while on the other hand his sister still believes in their existence. So he is torn between his belief and that of his sisters. On one end he is saving his own recovery, while on the other hand, he believes that his sister is going crazy, so he is trying to keep her sane as well.

Did you have to go through any kind of preparation for that?

Of course, I did. I had to understand how life is like in juvenile homes, so I visited quite a few of them in Delhi. One thing about these guys are that they live without any kinds of interaction or gadgets, so I tried that out with myself for a day. It was the hardest thing that I have ever done. It was a very spooky experience. But it made me a very patient person.

Is there any quality of this character that you’d like to retain?

I would like to retain his rationality. He is a very practical person. I am very emotional on the other hand.

What made you come to Bombay?

A girl got me to Bombay. I was dating her in college. As she was a year elder to me, she graduated earlier and came to Bombay to pursue a career in acting. Things were not working out according to her, so she thought that it would be best if we break up and the only thing that could save us if I came to Bombay, which I did. We broke up 3 months later. I became an actor but she didn’t.

Delhi or Bombay? Which city do you like more?

Being a Delhi boy, I’ve always loved Delhi from the bottom of my heart, but when it comes to staying, I would like to reside here in Bombay. Bombay cause it has given me everything I have right now, and nowadays whenever I go back to Delhi, I see a Delhi which is different than how I remember it to be from my childhood days. Delhi has become really violent and unsafe, especially for the ladies. Something is wrong with that city.

What do you think of Huma as an actor?

As an actor, I really admire her. She is a very edgy person who chose to do an unconventional debut with a film like Gangs of Wasseypur where you have 140 artists and you get your screen space in the second half. Very few people will make choices like that. She is also a very spontaneous person. She is somebody who lives in the scene. She is somebody who urges you to push yourself.

What do you think about Huma’s film Ek Thi Daayan?

I think that the movie could have been far more superior to how it actually turned out to be. The first half was well done, but the second half, I believe that it did not work for me. Overall it was a great attempt. It could have been that one film which could have set the standard for the horror genre in India.

Do you think that Dobaara would set a standard for future horror flicks to come in India?

I hope it does. What’s more important is that it should be able to break the tradition that regular Bollywood filmmakers are following with respect to making horror films. Gone are the days when actors applied powders and wore bed sheets to look like supernatural beings and you’d involve priests to help you out with the situation. When you see this movie, you’ll know that we haven’t taken the clichéd approach. Also, Bollywood needs to tap into the horror genre. Look at a film like conjuring where the cinema houses are running full. That itself tells you that there is an audience for the genre.

Why should one see Dobaara is they have seen Oculus already?

Because it is not Oculus, it’s an adaptation. The essence is the same. There are more characters in the film. Bollywood has more emotions and nuances than Hollywood, so we have inculcated that in the film.

Are the startle-points the same between the two?

There are some which are the same, and there are some which have been added.

What have you learned from Huma?

I have learned how to not act from Huma! (Laughs)

We had heard about your plans of starting up a restaurant chain of your own, just like your dad in Delhi. How is that coming along?

My dad and I have spoken about it. I have made it clear that I will not be able to monitor it on a daily basis. We will hire people for the same. We just need to find a good place and we will go forward with it. What’s more important is that I will finally get to spend some time with my father.