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Promising the moon...

Another Delhi boy Saahib registers his entry into Bollywood

PROMISING? Saahib makes his debut with "Chand Ke Paar Chalo" releasing this month-end

So we have a new boy on the block. And before the release of his first film he has added another `a' to his name. So Sahib has become Saahib for his debut film Chand Ke Paar Chalo releasing this month-end. Though the film centres around Preeti Jhangiani, the heroine of the film, Saahib complements her, for it is he who allures this street dancer to the film industry and shows her dreams of a world beyond the moon.

This Delhi University commerce graduate with a shy temperament and innocent looks is a spontaneous speaker. Saahib who has also done a course in export management from FTDC, "always wanted to act in films". So when Mustafa Engineer, the debutant director of this film, called him for audition, his dream of making it to films got realised. Says this visibly happy boy, eager to contain his emotions while being interviewed, "Mustafaji had called boys for auditions in Mumbai and Delhi. I got selected from Delhi among some 70 boys. After about three meetings with him, I got the role too."

He has the role of simple lad from Naini Tal, namely, Chander, who is a photographer by profession. When he sees Preeti Jhangiani dancing on the streets of Naini Tal, he thinks that with her talent and beauty she can make it in the film world. So he shows her photographs to producers/directors. "How, after I introduce her to the film world and she gets name, fame and money, her attitude changes, and how I suffer the pangs of love and separation is what the film all about," says Saahib who being a city-bred boy had to "eat, sleep and behave like a small town boy" to get into the skin of the character. And for that he attended a month's workshop before the film started.

Able actor

If director Mustafa is to be believed, Saahib got into his role so well that at times even an experienced actor like Preeti got intimidated. "You would be able to make out from certain scenes in the film where you would find her scared," declares Mustafa. And that is not all. After trying 20 dubbing artistes for two months, Mustafa called Saahib to just give it a try to learn how to dub. "His first dialogue was just what I wanted. I couldn't believe it. And he completed the entire dubbing in only two days!" he recalls.

For now, Saahib, who has worked on his diction and even muscles because there is some action too in this love story, is ready to explore all kinds of roles. I would like to do some action-oriented films now for which I am working on my physique," he says. Pyar Bhi Inkaar Bhi that goes on the floor this year is his next film, again with Mustafa and Preeti only.

RANA SIDDIQUI

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