The wedding season is in full swing, and celebrity nuptials are making headlines, which makes actor Saqib Saleem happy because he enjoys desi weddings. “I’m from Delhi and we have big farmhouse weddings there. I’ve grown up attending a lot of them. I enjoy weddings,” says Saleem, who recently attended the wedding of actors Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa, which he describes as “beautiful.” The Rangbaaz (2018) actor adds, “It was in a lovely setting with lovely food and great hospitality.”

Despite his admiration for the institution of marriage, the actor believes there is still time for him to take the plunge. “Do I get emotional when I see two people in love? I do, indeed. But I never return home thinking about my marriage. It is a lovely institution, but I believe I still have time for it. It is not on my mind,” Saleem explains.

On the work front, though he was seen in two web shows, Saleem’s last big release on the silver screen was 2018’s Race 3, and the actor was trolled for his performance in the movie. He, however, took it in his stride. “I think with Race 3, I got lazy. I did nothing new. I went in with the idea that commercial films are like that — I have to look cool. I never really got into the character and only played it superficially. It was important for me to hear that I wasn’t very good at it. When I was being trolled for the film and many people asked ‘Why he was in it? and ‘What he was doing?’... it provided me with a sense of clarity about what I should do next,” he says.

As long as it’s strictly for work, the actor doesn’t mind being trolled. “I want healthy criticism in life. How else will I learn? Sometimes, we actors approach every role in the same way. So, these things add fuel and push you to do better. Criticism is important, but not personal remark,” he ends.