In this episode of the AfterHours with All About Eve, Bani Anand sits down with actor Saqib Saleem, who opens up about his journey in the film industry, his love for horror comedies, and the intriguing story behind his name.

The podcast begins with a warm welcome and quickly transitions to Saqib’s new project, 'Kakuda'. With Saqib reassuring Bani that 'Kakuda' leans more towards laughter than scares, they fondly recall classic horror shows like Zee Horror Show and Ram Gopal Varma's 'Raat', which took Saqib over a decade to finish due to its intensity!

One of the episode’s highlights is when Bani addresses the question fans have long been curious about - why Saqib and Huma go by different last names.

Saqib reflects on his unexpected journey to Bollywood, which began with a phone call from an ex-girlfriend asking him to move to Mumbai. Despite that relationship not lasting, his drive to prove himself fuelled his desire to carve his own path in the industry.

The interview then moves to Saqib's initial years in Mumbai, including a hilarious yet slightly tragic first advertisement shoot, which led him to call up friends and family to watch his debut. Little did he know that he would be relegated to the background.

Saqib also reflects on his film journey, from playing the charming young college boy in 'Mere Dad Ki Maruti' to his transformative experience working with Karan Johar in 'Bombay Talkies', where he embraced a complex role alongside Bollywood stalwarts like Rani Mukherjee.

One of the podcast’s highlights is Saqib’s experience working on '83', where he brought Mohinder Amarnath's story to life. His love for cricket shines through as he shares his journey from state-level player to landing a pivotal role, emphasising the importance of pitching oneself in a competitive industry. The film fostered genuine friendships with the cast and fulfilled his childhood dreams of cricket, leaving a lasting impact despite a challenging release during the pandemic. He also reflects on his dual experiences with 'Race 3', noting the highs of shooting and the lows of self-expectation. Saqib humorously recounts his unexpected connection to the iconic meme "Our business is our business. None of your business."

Bani nudges Saqib to share about his close friendships with industry peers like Sonakshi Sinha, emphasising how vital these connections are in the film industry. When asked about love, Saqib smiles, admitting he's fallen in love many times. He describes love as a transformative experience that fuels inspiration and hope.

(00:00) Episode begins

(02:30) 'Kakuda'

(04:08) Why he is Saleem and Huma is Qureshi

(07:18) How he ended up joining the film industry

(11:16) Insights on acting

(15:28) Evolution of the craft of acting

(16:38) How he has changed in the last decade

(17:58) Experience in advertising

(26:45) On 'Bombay Talkies' and playing a gay character

(32:14) His parents' reaction to 'Bombay Talkies'

(35:30) On '83'

(40:55) On 'Race 3'

(43:12) On the script of Race and its memes

(44:31) On '83' not being a hit

(46:35) Shooting experience of '83'

(50:08) On Sonakshi's wedding

(51:39) Friendships in Bollywood

(53:38) On love

(56:34) On 'Citadel'

(58:33) What does Saqib Saleem do to unwind AfterHours?

(01:02:31) Game

(01:05:05) Delhi vs Bombay

Follow Saqib Saleem on Instagram:   / saqibsaleem  

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