Sibling Revelry

Huma and Saqib grew up in Delhi,and like any brother and sister,they had their share of squabbles. Today,however,they consider each other theirsounding board. Huma came to Mumbai in 2009,and immediately after started signing endorsement deals. Saqib joined her a year later. While the reason he gave his parents was his desire to achieve something instead of living off their money,but the truth was that Saqib was being threatened by his girlfriend to come and meet her.

Once in the city,Saqib had no choice but to stay on and remain true to the claims he had made. “My friends said I had a face good enough for modelling,” he says. Huma bagged Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs Of Wasseypur at the same time when Saqib signed Y Films’ Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge. But Saqib’s film released first,and Huma’s a year later.

In an industry,where getting the first break is as difficult as sustaining oneself,the brother-sister duo from a family of hoteliers — their father owns a chain of restaurants called Saleem’s — seems to have done reasonably well. Both have had two releases in two years — Saqib has had Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge and Mere Dad Ki Maruti and Huma,Gangs of Wasseypur I & II and Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana. And while Saqib has Karan Johar’s segment of Bombay Talkies lined up for release,Huma’s next release is Ek Thi Daayan,followed by D-Day and Dedh Ishqiya. “It is flattering to know that filmmakers are offering me different genres,but it’s also my conviction that I can pull off these roles,” says Huma.

Saqib may not be signing too many films,but he is more clear of his goals. At 24,he believes he has the liberty to take it slow. “I had a great start with Yash Raj Films,and even got signed on by them for a three-film deal. No actor can ask for a better start. Whatever I do next has to be better and help me grow as an actor,” he states.

While Saqib is known for being more mainstream with his choices,Huma has chosen the offbeat route. Saqib explains,“People often tell us that we are doing different kinds of films,but it isn’t a conscious decision. We both want to cross over and try a variety of films,but we are still too young,”