New Delhi: After doing guy-next-door roles infilms like Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge and Mere Dad KiMaruti, actor Saqib Saleem is happy to shed his boyish imagein his upcoming release Hawaa Hawaai.
Saqib, 25, will be seen playing a friendly skatingcoach in the Amol Gupte directed movie. The actor said thisrole was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him.
"I am not a trained actor and I am lucky that I havealways worked with those directors who inspired me to performwell. Amole sir is also one of those who helped to bring outthe best in me. My character is not a stereotypical coach,rather he is a friendly teacher whom all the kids love,"Saqib told PTI.
The actor, whose sister Huma Qureshi is also a buddingactress in Bollywood, had to meet real skating coaches toprepare for his role.
"My character is a collaboration between my visit to skating schools in Mumbai and Amole sir's inputs. I needed toget the terminology of coach right, so I met two skatingcoaches in Mumbai. I spoke to them, understood their psycheand incorporated them in my character," Saqib said.
In the film, Saqib shares the screen space with Amole'sson Partho who has won a national award for his debutperformance in Stanley Ka Dabba.
"I was like an elder brother to Partho on the sets. I ama fan of his, but I feel audience will love him more afterwatching Hawaa Hawaai. He is one of the best child actors inIndia and shooting with him was fun. Our small unit was like afamily," he said.
Hawaa Hawaai is a tribute to people who dare to dream.The film, which is currently in its post-production stage, isexpected to hit theatres on May 9.
Before starting the shoot, Saqib was a little apprehensiveabout his on-screen chemistry with Partho and other childactors in the film.
"I was worried in the first week before working withthese immensely talented kids in the film. I was constantlyunder the fear that what if the kids didn't like me. Mycharacter in the film is mature but at the same time friendly.So, to be friends with them I used to go one hour prior to theshoot timing to form a bond with them," he said.
The Delhi boy feels he has evolved as an actor."I had no Bollywood aspirations. I wanted to be asportsman but destiny had something different for me. I amhappy with the way my career graph in showbiz has shaped up inthese years. I am getting different roles but I am not in therace to do many films because I believe in quality rather thanquantity," Saqib said.
Saqib, 25, will be seen playing a friendly skatingcoach in the Amol Gupte directed movie. The actor said thisrole was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him.
"I am not a trained actor and I am lucky that I havealways worked with those directors who inspired me to performwell. Amole sir is also one of those who helped to bring outthe best in me. My character is not a stereotypical coach,rather he is a friendly teacher whom all the kids love,"Saqib told PTI.
"My character is a collaboration between my visit to skating schools in Mumbai and Amole sir's inputs. I needed toget the terminology of coach right, so I met two skatingcoaches in Mumbai. I spoke to them, understood their psycheand incorporated them in my character," Saqib said.
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"I was like an elder brother to Partho on the sets. I ama fan of his, but I feel audience will love him more afterwatching Hawaa Hawaai. He is one of the best child actors inIndia and shooting with him was fun. Our small unit was like afamily," he said.
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Before starting the shoot, Saqib was a little apprehensiveabout his on-screen chemistry with Partho and other childactors in the film.
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The Delhi boy feels he has evolved as an actor."I had no Bollywood aspirations. I wanted to be asportsman but destiny had something different for me. I amhappy with the way my career graph in showbiz has shaped up inthese years. I am getting different roles but I am not in therace to do many films because I believe in quality rather thanquantity," Saqib said.
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