Saqib Saleem, who was in Ahmedabad recently along with his actress-sister Huma Qureshi to promote Baby Do Die Do, which he co-produced, says, “It is extremely difficult to release a female-led action thriller in theatres. It’s not because the audience doesn’t want to watch such films, but because of the gatekeeping within the industry. The people who decide what gets into theatres often don’t allow these films to be mounted and released properly. I feel Huma is a phenomenal actor. She has consistently proved herself with projects like Gangs Of Wasseypur, Delhi Crime and Maharani. So why should she still have to struggle to get a major theatrical film? Hasn’t she earned that by now?”

He adds, “I have produced two films before this, Double XL and Single Salma. Both were backed by studios and although the reviews and audience feedback were positive, neither film got a fair chance in theatres. They didn’t get enough screens or the right show timings. Even for our latest film, when a studio had certain unreasonable demands, I just decided to do this on our own and told Huma, ‘Let’s make this film, we’ll think about everything else later.’ I was blessed to have an incredible team. The vision behind our production house is to build an ecosystem where talented voices get the opportunities they deserve. We want to create a platform for people we truly believe in. I may not always make the biggest films, but I will give artistes the freedom to express themselves. I’ll create an environment where their voices are heard, because that’s often what’s suppressed in this industry.”

Talking about the responsibilities that come with producing films, he says, “As a producer, my responsibility is to make sure the film reaches the right theatres and gets the right number of shows. It’s not easy, but I believe audiences don’t think about whether a film comes from a studio or an independent producer. They simply want a good story and a unique film experience. I am glad that Main Vaapas Aaunga, which is very different from the kind of films that are considered commercially successful today, found its audience in the second week. It gives me hope and shows that people want to watch different, unique films and not just formula-driven cinema.”

He adds, “Producing a film is a completely different ball game from acting. Acting is a demanding profession, but as an actor, your focus is largely on your character, dialogues and performance. As a producer, however, everyone on the set looks to you for answers. You’ll meet plenty of people who will discourage you, but you need to believe in yourself, build a good team, work sincerely, and not let the outside noise affect you.”

Saqib, who has played cricket at the under-19 level, says the sport continues to influence the way he approaches filmmaking, “Even today, I’m a cricketer in my head. I still feel like I can play for India, and I don’t think that feeling will ever go away. I’ll always consider myself a sportsperson because cricket was my first love. Sports taught me that you start from zero every single day. For every new film, I have to start from zero. I can’t carry the baggage of my previous success.”

He adds, “That’s why I always relate filmmaking to cricket. Cricket is about building the right team and bringing people together to achieve one common goal. Producing is the same; my responsibility is to bring together the right people. I tell my directors, ‘I believe in your style. Make the film your way.’ Similarly, I choose actors who I believe are exceptionally talented. For instance, Sikandar Kher is a phenomenal actor. The same goes for Chunky Panday and Seema Pahwa. I like to cast actors who are immensely talented but haven’t always received the recognition they deserve. That includes Huma too; she’s a phenomenal actor. She has consistently proved herself with projects like Gangs of Wasseypur, Delhi Crime and Maharani. So why should she still have to struggle to get a major theatrical film? Hasn’t she earned that by now?”

The body always tells you. During a shoot for ‘Single Salma’ in Lucknow, I felt unusually tired and a strange lump in my throat after an intense action sequence. I sat down for a bit, brushed it off, and told myself I’m fine. But something felt off. Around that time, singer KK passed away after suddenly falling ill during a performance. That shook all of us, made us think about health.

I decided to visit a doctor. I went for an ECG and 2D echo and both tests came back normal. I didn’t ignore it, but I didn’t dig deeper. I just assumed everything was fine.

It wasn’t. Months later, in December 2023, I faced a major cardiac episode that would transform my life in ways I hadn’t imagined. I was only in my mid-40s. But physically and emotionally, it changed everything for me. Physically, there are certain precautions I will have to take throughout my life to make sure something like that never happens again. I need to take regular medication, go for follow-ups and checkups, and listen to my doctors.

Emotionally, the impact has been even more profound. I had none of the four risk factors that trigger a heart attack — smoking, drinking, diabetes or hypertension — yet it happened. It brought realization about how uncertain life can be.

But there are many things within our control, and we must take care of those aspects. After an experience like that, you realize your priorities need to change. Your family becomes your number one priority. And to ensure they get quality time with you, you must take care of yourself. That also means sleeping well, for seven-eight hours daily, exercising four to five days a week and eating nutritious, timely meals.

By proper diet, I don’t mean surviving just on salads. I eat everything in moderation. I avoid fried and sugary foods, but I do consume a little ghee. Eating nutritious food is important, but eating on time is even more crucial. Maintain fixed timings for your meals. Have dinner as early as possible as it gives your stomach enough time to digest and rest. The best diet won’t help if your meal timings are erratic.

My earlier discipline of clean eating and regular workouts played a big role in my recovery. I do think the Covid vaccine and post-pandemic health effects may have triggered complications. Still, my active lifestyle helped me bounce back faster. It’s important to understand that nutrition, regular exercise, good sleep and a balanced diet strengthen your body. If it had not been for these habits, things could have been very different. Your body repays the care you give it.

Stress is a part of life. That said, I also believe that we need to learn to manage it. You have to learn to let go of what’s not in your control. I’ve realized that wisdom comes with time, but when someone shares their learnings with you, it is important to listen. Don’t wait for your own crisis to teach you the same thing the hard way.

Even as Huma Qureshi’s Single Salma was the new Hindi release of the week, most single screens and multiplexes played Baahubali: The Epic, which was a re-release. The Qureshi, Shreyas Talpade, and Sunny Singh-starrer opened in 200 cinemas across the country. Sharing fan messages on Instagram, Qureshi — who is also one of the producers of Single Salma — revealed that her timeline is flooded with requests for more shows of the Nachiket Samant-directed film (Fighting for screens, Nov 1). Many people from Jamshedpur and Delhi wrote to her on social media that the movie wasn’t available in their local cinemas.

This isn’t the fate that Qureshi had envisioned for her production. “It’s tough out there for films like Single Salma. It does not have massive marketing budgets or star-driven optics. Theatres are fighting for space between superhero movies, franchise films, and re-releases. So smaller, heart-led stories get squeezed out — not necessarily because the audience doesn’t want to watch them, but because they never get the chance to. The system still prefers to play safe,” she says.

Single Salma tells the story of the protagonist, who, after years of taking care of her family, decides to tie the knot. The actor understands that such an intimate story doesn’t offer the extravaganza that tentpole films promise, but all she is fighting for is a fair chance. “What’s missing is balance. Every big banner release should co-exist with a few story-driven ones,” she urges.

Often such movies go on to find popularity when they drop on OTT platforms. But the promise of an eventual digital release has changed the mindset of producers.

Qureshi explains, “Smaller films often get caught in a crossfire between studios and platforms. The OTT [heads] say, ‘We’ll support it after a theatrical release,’ and the studio then does a token release just to honour that agreement. So it’s not a proper run; it’s just ticking a box. A film like this deserves an honest chance in theatres. We need more courage. Not every film has to be a Rs 200-crore spectacle to deserve attention. Theatres and studios have to stop treating smaller films like trial runs. Give them good slots, let the audience discover them. Also, we need to stop calling them small films. A good story is a good story, the screen size doesn’t define its impact.”

Viacom18 Studios has built a formidable 100 films library over the last decade that includes an array of films like Tanu Weds Manu, Special 26, Kahaani, Queen, Padmavaat, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Andhadhun and the Drishyam franchise among others. Tipping Point, its digital content brand, has delivered Jamtara and She franchises, that have captivated the audience and are now returning for their third seasons.

The studio is now geared up to bring a new array of movies and series, both for streaming devices and the silver screen. The line-up spans various genres, including thrillers, action, drama, comedy, romance, reality and slice-of-life stories.

Ajit Andhare, COO of Viacom18 Studios, says, “Our mission is focused on curating a compelling and diverse slate of stories from the most talented creators in various forms, narrative styles and languages that connect with the hearts of the viewers, irrespective of the screens they play on.”

The new line-up includes the aerial action film, Fighter starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, a family drama Rocky Rani Ki Prem Kahani starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt and the sequel of OMG – Oh My God!, OMG – Oh My God 2!.

In addition are unique films like Dhak Dhak, a coming-of-age journey of four unlikely women bikers starring Fatima Shaikh, Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza and Sanjana Sanghi, a courtroom family drama, Shastry Vs Shastry with Paresh Rawal, then there’s Huma Qureshi’s heartwarming Single Salma and the intriguing thriller Suspect starring Nana Patekar and Meezaan Jafri.

Tipping Point will launch 10 path-breaking new shows for the streaming world. It includes Gaanth, a crime thriller set in Delhi, Transition, a groundbreaking reality series that follows the journey of a trans woman, and Kaalkoot, an investigative drama, Boots, Belts & Berets, a heart-warming coming-of-age story of academy freshers turning to men in uniform, Mahim, an adaptation of Jerry Pinto’s book set in Mumbai, and Cheeku, a coming-of-age story about a young 24-year-old boy from the Tamil Brahmin Iyer community in Mumbai, to name a few.

Besides this, Viacom18 Studios’ Hollywood slate includes the highly-anticipated Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, starring Tom Cruise and the seventh instalment of the Transformers franchise, Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts. Powered by this slate, the studio continues to bring the best of Paramount’s titles to India and continues on its mission to present the best of Indian stories to the world.

(L to R): Fighter, Cheeku, Gaanth and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One