EXCLUSIVE: Saqib Saleem on what ‘83 success means to him, Ranveer Singh and Kabir Khan

The entire ‘83 team have been in a celebration mood, given the superb response to their performances. Even as the film continues to see a growth in footfall numbers rapidly, the Omnicron scare has sure act as a deterrent. But that has not damped the spirit of the team who waited for almost one and a half years for the film to release. ‘83 has been declared one of the best films of 2021 and in an exclusive chat with Bollywood Bubble, Saqib Saleem opened up on what success means to him. He was also all praises for Ranveer Singh, who plays Kapil Dev and director Kabir Khan. Saqib Saleem even shared how surreal it felt to be playing his father’s favorite cricketer Mohinder Amarnath onscreen in 83 The Film and the response he has been getting. On a lighter note, Saqib Saleem joked that even though he is “too old” for New Year resolutions, he hopes to be a part of quality cinema, moving forward.

Excerpts below:

The response to the film has been encouraging. Is it overwhelming knowing that you’ll had to wait for almost a year and a half to show your labor of hard work?

I am happy with all the reactions I have been getting and hearing, it is just overwhelming. We all lived one life as we filmed for ‘83. We changed our DNA to make this film, we worked really hard. When you know that everybody has given their 200 per cent, you are forced to out in more.

You, in fact, lost around 10-13 kgs for the film to be able to play Mohinder Amarnath?

I lost around 14 KGs for the film, to be precise (laughs). The strict instruction I was given was that I can’t have abs and body because we are playing players from the 80s when there was no gym per say. So we would run and practice cricket for the most part of the day. Practically, we were just so exhausted that we were just dedicated to ‘83. It was hard for the first 20 days perhaps but then we started enjoying it. I have never seen actors being invested in other actors so much. This experience was truly surreal.

 

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What I absolutely love about the film is that there is no one hero. It is a film where Team India is the protagonist. Do you agree?

Kabir Sir had mentioned very clearly that even though they are Kapil Dev’s devils, they are all heroes in their own rights, they are legends and it is an ensemble film. It is very gracious of Ranveer to let everyone have their moments and shine. That is how the film came about. From day 1, everyone knew that it is a team work and no one tried to overshadow anyone and just tried to give their best. Kabir Sir is a magician, truly.

Did it ever bother you that an OTT release for the film was being considered at one point?

We all wanted the film to release in a theatre, it is like watching a film in a stadium but those were uncertain times and these were calls that were beyond my control. But, I am sure a lot of contemplation went behind and everybody stuck through and made sure it is a theatrical release. I am just glad we could do that.

 

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What was your process like to become Jimmy (Mohinder Amarnath) from Saqib?

One thing I was always clear at was that I don’t want to mimics him, instead, lets try to imbibe his personality and make it my own. Whether it is waking up early, meditation, or focusing on the basics everyday, not being result-orientated. So, I tried to imbibe these qualities in me so that when I play Jimmy Ambernath, it doesn’t look caricaturist but more real. The idea was to be Jimmy in real life, of set, for the time.

Knowing that your dad is a huge fan of Jimmy himself, how did he react?

My dad is the happiest human being in the world right now. Seeing his son play his favourite cricketer onscreen has brought him the biggest joy. Mohinder Ambernath loved what I did onscreen and has given me his red handkerchief. “Tune mujhe 10 daal Jawaan kar Diya hai,” he told me. What else can I ask for? I am a simple boy from Delhi, it is a glorious moment for me.

 

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Speaking of OTT in general. Do you feel it is the best time to be an actor with the number of opportunities being offered?

100%. There are exciting things being made these days. I think being an actor in these times is a great thing. There are great makers, making good films, series, it is a great time for actors like me. I have evolved as an audience and my choices of films should reflect that too. There is a content being made in every part of the world. Now language is no bar. So, the point is the one has to be part of things that are good.

Lastly, even as resolutions seem to be a thing of the past, is there anything you want to achieve in 2022?

I have broken too many resolutions in life but one thing that remains constant is that I enjoy acting and I want to keep working and surprising people. Every time they think he can’t do that, I want to surprise them more. I don’t want to do conventional things, I am saturated with that. I want to do films that moves people and says something. I want to be a part of quality work moving forward.

Also Read: Did you know Vicky Kaushal was offered a role in Ranveer Singh starrer 83?

Bhavna Agarwal

Assistant Editor at Bollywood Bubble. An ambivert who is currently high on K-dramas and K-Pop. A forever Bollywood fan, who continues to gush over solid stories and characters. Hit me up for a fine conversation over chai.

You can also reach me on – https://twitter.com/filmybugB