Saqib Saleem is stepping into a powerful new avatar with Kaptaan, where he plays a stylish yet emotionally layered cop. In an exclusive chat, the actor opened up about what drew him to the role, the challenges on set, and his perspective on the ongoing debate around working hours in the industry.
Talking about choosing Kaptaan, Saqib shared his instant excitement. “I’m the Kaptaan, they offered me a Kaptaan…,” he said, adding that it was a character he had been waiting for. “It was just a character that I hadn’t gotten in a really long time… somebody who has a lot of swag but yet has a backstory of his own, has an emotional turmoil that he’s going through, yet he has to play this strong guy all the time.”
On the layers of his character in Kaptaan
He emphasised the complexity of the role, calling it a perfect mix of contrasts. “So I feel like there was a lot of dichotomy in the character, which got me really excited as an actor because I thought, I’ll get to do a lot.” He further explained how the OTT format helped him explore the role in depth. “It already allows you to get deeper into your character vis-a-vis a feature film… there was a backstory, there were individual relationships… it just gave me so much to play with as an actor.”
Recalling the intense shoot conditions, Saqib painted a vivid picture of the team’s camaraderie. “When we were shooting, the weather was 45 degrees. There used to be one fan in front of which we would stick to each other,” he said. He added, “We have survived together in that heat… after one point, I was not able to understand what is my sweat, what is Anjum’s sweat… sometimes while fighting, someone got hurt.” Despite the challenges, he noted, “Now when we sit back… we are like, it was all worth it.”
Saqib Saleem reacts to 8-hour work debate
On the much-discussed 8-hour shift debate, Saqib offered a balanced take. He said, “When I work with someone, all these things are sorted before the shoot—it’s not something that suddenly happens on set. If I’m making a film that can’t afford an eight-hour shift, I make it clear to the actor in advance. Every film has a budget; films don’t flop, budgets do. The same film made within the right budget versus an expensive one makes a huge difference. That said, if I have the flexibility to spend a little extra to give someone comfort especially if they have personal responsibilities like a child I’m more than willing to do that and figure it out. But some films just don’t allow that. The kind of films I’ve made often require everyone to put in extra effort because there’s limited budget, and people end up working 10–12 hours as per the project’s needs. However, if I ever have the budget to offer better comfort to someone I’m working with, I would absolutely do it why wouldn’t I?”
With Kaptaan, Saqib Saleem brings both intensity and nuance, marking a compelling new chapter in his career.