Protective cousin Huma goes all out for Saqib

Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) Young actor Saqib Saleem's confident performance in "Mere Dad Ki Maruti" has multiplied his popularity since last year's "Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge". The proudest is his cousin Huma Qureshi, who made her own impressive debut last year with "Gangs Of Wasseypur".

Huma, who has been busy shooting with Madhuri Dixit for Abhishek Choubey's "Dedh Ishqiya", can barely contain her excitement at her brother's persuasive impact in "Mere Dad Ki Maruti".

"One thing no one can deny about Saqib is that he is a spontaneous and uninhibited performer. Give him any scene and he will do it naturally and effortlessly. Of course it is difficult for me to judge his performance impartially, since he's my brother, and I am bound to be biased," said Huma.

Saqib is in the meanwhile, taking it nice and steady.

"I've just finished 'Bombay Talkies'. I am part of the segment directed by Karan Johar. Other than that, I am just reading scripts. I don't want to sign anything in haste."

A prominent director who plans to work with both the screen-friendly siblings says, "Huma and Saqib represent a new generation of potential stars from outside the industry like Ayushmann Khurrana, Sushant Singh Rajput, Richa Chaddha and Kartik Tiwari".

"They both have a good screen presence and a terrific sense of screen-space. But they are not from within the film fraternity. They don't have major studios backing them. Only independent producers take them on, and that too on the rebound," the filmmaker added on anyonymity.

The filmmaker pointed how, "given their niche status in Bollywood, it is important for these outsiders to get a stronger foothold within the industry".