‘RACE 3 STARTED A NEW TIMELINE IN MY LIFE’
Actor Saqib Saleem says the film helped him become a recognised face throughout the country and change established perceptions
Having been a part of the highly-successful Race 3, actor Saqib Saleem feels the film heralded a change in his career. While it received diverse reactions from critics and audience, Saqib always knew the film would work in his favour.
“In fact, [after Race 3] people started acknowledging the fact that I existed. This is because sometimes you’re doing these small-budget films which are nice, but not reaching out to the masses. If I go to Indore, nobody recognises me! So, I am like ‘Okay, my films have been appreciated, and done decent business, but why is this happening?’ I want every Indian to love me,” says Saqib, who has done films such as Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge (2011) and Hawaa Hawaii (2014).
“After it was announced that I was a part of Race 3, everyone told me that what the film could do [for my career] was it [would] reach out to so many more people... more people [will] see you, and if you are talented, even accept you,” adds the actor.
“It’s very exciting for an actor when people start taking him differently. Being honest, I was quoted somewhere as having said ‘Race 3 is my second innings’. That’s not what I meant. What I wanted to say was that life before Race 3 and after it is very different. I am saying that the moment I signed this film, there started a new timeline in my life,” he says.
Saqib also had to beef up physically for the character, but he says the change was imperative, otherwise he was facing a roadblock. “Everyone had started saying ‘tu young hai, we can’t always cast a new girl opposite you. You start looking young in front of the [present] female actors. I was, like, theek hai, shave karna shuru kar dete hain, I should grow my hair,” he reveals.
It’s very exciting for an actor when people start taking him differently... [After Race 3], people started acknowledging the fact that I existed. SAQIB SALEEM ACTOR