Brother Actor Saqib Saleem & Sister Actress Huma Qureshi

Brother-sister duo Saqib Saleem and Huma Qureshi attribute their acting genes to their filmi family.

A DRAMATIC CHILDHOOD

“We’ve always been like this,” smiles Huma. Saqib, who is two years younger, reveals, “When we were kids Humyaji (he addresses her in this manner) had this habit of screaming and crying whenever we had a fight. She wanted our parents to scold me. Her antics surprised me even then!” Saqib adds, “Once we had gone to visit a neighbourhood aunt. Soon all her cosmetics went missing from the washroom. I was believed to have stolen them and was pulled up for it!” The mystery was solved 15 years later. “A few years ago when the same aunt came to our place for dinner, we recalled the incident. I said, ‘I swear Aunty; I had not taken your cosmetics’. From across the table, Huma confessed that it was she who had taken them. Huma sheepishly confides, “I was terrified to tell the truth then. That day Saqib had fallen asleep and I had nothing to do. So I fidgeted with her toiletries, spoilt them and threw them out of the window! ”Huma and Saqib grew up in the Kalkaji area of New Delhi. Their father Saleem is the proprietor of Delhi’s famous chain of restaurants Saleem’s, particularly known for its delectable kebabs. Their elder brothers, Naeem and Haseen are in the family business. Though they have no connection with the film industry, the family has been no less filmi. Huma says, “Our dad is from Delhi, but mom (Ameena Qureshi) hails from Kashmir. They had an epic romance. They eloped and got married and for years our nanaji (grandfather) severed relations with them. But after we were born nanaji’s heart melted.” “That explains our acting genes,” laughs Saqib, “In our family, everything is done in extremes. My mother is so dramatic.”

ACTOR SAQIB SALEEM & SISTER ACTRESS HUMA QURESHI

Brother Actor Saqib Saleem & Sister Actress Huma Qureshi

ACTRESS HUMA QURESHI’S TALE

Though the duo was not allowed to watch films, they’d watch Hollywood movies on TV on the sly. “In the 12th, I scored 87 per cent marks but got admission in college through the sports quota,” says Saqib. “Saqib loved cricket. I played basket ball,” says Huma. Saqib stares at her surprised, “Don’t lie, yaar!” Huma claims, “I have the certificates!” They are at it again. I intervene and ask about how they took to acting. Saqib shares, “At our home in Delhi, you’ll find more than 100 issues of Filmfare. I loved watching films. Huma used to do theatre during her college days. I’d watch her rehearsals.” Huma was the president of the college theatre group but told her family that she wanted to pursue medicine. Saqib recalls the hungama she created at home one day, “One day I saw mummy distraught saying, ‘My daughter has broken my dreams’. There was Humyaji, sitting on the other side, all melodramatic and saying, ‘Mama, I won’t be able to study medicine. I’ll become an IAS officer instead.” But the truth was that her heart was in dramatics. Huma even joined Delhi’s prominent theatre group, Act One. When her father asked her what she really wanted to pursue, she said she wanted to become a director. “Because I knew that being a conservative family, they wouldn’t allow me to become an actor,” says Huma. The day she revealed that she actually wanted to be an actor all hell broke loose. “Dad felt that too much of studying had affected her mind. My parents suggested she go abroad and do her MBA.” Huma adds, “But when I told dad that all my life I’d regret not being able to fulfil my dreams because of him, he became emotional. The very next day, he brought me to Mumbai. He said, ‘If nothing happens in a year, come back to a normal life.” In 2008, Huma came to Mumbai. It was while she was shooting a commercial with Aamir Khan that Anurag Kashyap informed her that she’d be part of his next film.

ACTOR SAQIB SALEEM’S TALE

Meanwhile, Saqib had begun modeling at his model girlfriend’s insistence. “My girlfriend warned me that if I wanted our relationship to work I’d have to follow her to Mumbai. So, I too shifted to Mumbai in 2010.” And while his relationship broke within two months, he stayed on to live his dreams. While Huma had her share of struggles in Mumbai, Saqib was luckier. Huma recalls, “I took time to understand Mumbai. Saqib is an extrovert, he quickly became a Mumbaikar.” It was a coincidence that Huma bagged Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs Of Wasseypur and soon after that Saqib signed Y Films’ Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge. But Saqib’s film released first. “I told him, ‘Whatever is the result, remember that you are just 22 and your dad runs a restaurant. You’ve reached here on your own and this is an achievement!’” says the older sis. Saqib says, “I was keen she watched my film because whatever acting I’ve learnt is by watching her. I didn’t care what critics said.” The city of Mumbai has not only given them recognition but also brought them closer. Recently, the two bought an apartment in Oshiwara. “Saqib is mature. I can’t judge people,” says Huma. Saqib agrees, “If you talk to her nicely, she’ll be taken in. I tell her not to take everything on face value. Earlier, we didn’t share our personal lives but after coming to Mumbai; Humyaji and I have only each other to depend on.” By now, I am curious why – he addresses his sister as Humyaji. “I used to stutter as a child. Instead of calling her Huma baaji (older sister), I used to call her Humyaji. People believed I added ‘ji’ as a mark of respect,” laughs Saqib. Following her brilliant performance in GOW and the much-loved Luv Shuv Tey Chikan Khurana, Huma has Nikhil Advani’s D-Day and Vishal Bhardwaj-Ekta Kapoor’s Ek Thi Dayan coming up. Saqib’s second film, Y film’s, Mere Dad Ki Maruti is ready for release. The young actor is also excited about Karan Johar’s upcoming Bombay Talkies.  “I feel happy when people say, he’s Huma’s brother. After all, she’s a fabulous actor’.” Huma and Saqib have common friends. “Humyaji has no friends,” he teases. Huma retorts, “Yes Saqib thank you. I am alive because of you.” While Saqib is dating someone, about his sister’s choice of a boyfriend he reveals, “In a room, the quietest boy would be my sister’s choice. She likes only pappus!” She darts dagger looks at him. He chortles. The tomfoolery begins yet again...

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