Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; February 9, 2018)

With the eclectic mix of films that he has done so far, which includes Dishoom, Dobaara: See Your Evil, Hawaa Hawaai and Bombay Talkies, it’s hard to tell that Saqib Saleem has a wicked sense of humour. However, in a fun chat with After Hrs, he shows his quirky side. The actor, who will be seen next in Dil Juunglee, admits that he has no qualms taking potshots at himself and the place he hails from ­­— New Delhi. He also talks about his cute chemistry with co-star Taapsee Pannu and the jungliest thing that he has ever done.

FROM REAL TO REEL
Being a Delhite and growing up in Lajpat Nagar, Saqib Saleem took to his screen character Sumit Uppal like a fish takes to water. It’s a world he relates to completely. “I have seen a real-life Sumit Uppal, or rather a guy like him who is fascinated with going to the gym, making those abs and checking himself out in the mirror every single time after eating. He’s a wannabe actor. If you are from Delhi, you will know that almost any guy, who is 6 feet tall, goes to the gym and thinks he can be an actor. In my radar, he is a fool,” smiles the 29-year-old. Does he count himself also in that? “Definitely, I’m one! I still think by going to the gym and making those abs, I will be a big actor,” he laughs. In fact, it was the film’s fun quotient that drew Saqib. “When I read the script, I thought it will show a side of my personality which the audience hasn’t seen yet. I’ll get a chance to do what I want khulke. This is one role where honestly, I did not have to prepare at all. I played on my spontaneity,” he says.

Saqib says his character in the rom-com is lovable but a little flawed. “He’s not a bad guy, but selfish. He wants to come across as a good guy — the mix of his vulnerability and selfishness was what clinched it for me,” he adds. Going forward, Saqib wants to play characters that are flawed. “Nobody is perfect. I’ve made tons of mistake but if you learn from them, that’s progress,” he philosophises.

DELHI CONNECT
Ask him about the chemistry he shares with Taapsee (Pannu), and he says that it was their Delhi connection that played a big role. “We met for the first time for a music video and hit it off from the word go. I think it was the Delhi humour that got us together. We shared similar kinds of jokes and bonded over food,” Saqib says. Interestingly, the video was directed by Aleya Sen, Sharma who is helming the film. “I think the music video was an unsaid audition,” he laughs. “Aleya thought Taapsee and I share a good chemistry and cast us in Dil Juunglee,” he adds.

FRIENDS AT PLAY
While the film is a love story between Saqib and Taapsee’s characters, their friends play an important part in it, too. “Yes, it’s a journey of five friends. It has the vibe of first love, which is immature but sweet. It’s also about how the definition of love keeps changing in your life and the way your best friends influence you in that. While shooting for the rom-com, we ideated together. Everybody was on the same page, so no one overshadowed the other,” he explains.

CHAHE KOI MUJHE JUNGLEE KAHE
So, what’s the jungliest thing he has done in life? He replies, “I’m so junglee that I sometimes have to be told not to cross the line.” Saqib reveals that the jungliest thing he has ever done was to propose his former girlfriend in a filmi way. “I filled the room with heart-shaped balloons, bought champagne and recorded a music tape. While one side had romantic songs that I had sung for her, the other side had the original tracks. I made a collage of our pictures and wrote a poem, too. Actually, I came to Mumbai for her, not to become an actor. However, that didn’t work out, so I became an actor,” chuckles Saqib.