EXCLUSIVE: Saqib Saleem reveals kissing Randeep Hooda in Bombay Talkies is his most memorable scene; says, “There was this unspoken awkwardness”

Saqib Saleem made his acting debut in the 2011 romantic comedy Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge. He was appreciated for his performance and earned a Filmfare Award nomination in the Best Male Debut category. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, Saqib Saleem recalls his most memorable scene to date.

Saqib Saleem on his most memorable scene

When asked about his most memorable scene, Saqib Saleem said, “A memorable moment I think of is from when I was working on Bombay Talkies. There was a kiss between Randeep’s character and my character. While I wouldn’t call it a ‘wow, what a memorable scene,’ I still remember it vividly. It is because everyone was tense about how it would be executed—who would say what, how many people would be present, and so on. But it all happened in one take.”

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He continued, “Karan said, ‘Okay, got it, done, moving on.’ And both Randeep and I looked at each other, then at Karan, asking, ‘That’s it?’ Karan replied, ‘Yes, check it; it’s good.’ Still, we insisted on reviewing it, but Karan was confident. I remember that moment clearly because of the unique atmosphere on set. Back then, two mainstream male actors playing homosexual characters weren’t common. Homosexuality was often portrayed as comedic in films.”

Saqib Saleem on Bombay Talkies

Saleem concluded, “Bombay Talkies was one of the first films to bring such a storyline into the mainstream and give a leading man a defined sexual identity. That day stands out as memorable. We were shooting the scene on a rooftop, and everyone was so quiet. No one was talking much; there was this odd, unspoken awkwardness. It wasn’t clear who should speak, how much, or how comfortable everyone was. But the scene happened in one take, and it’s still there in the film today.”

Watch the full interview

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