Actor Saqib Ayub, who was last seen in film Thugs of Hindustan and web series like She and Hundred, is currently seen in the web series ‘The Missing Stone’, which is being well received by the audience. His upcoming projects are ‘Main Hero Bol Raha Hu’, Dongri to Dubai, She season 2 and a web series on Amazon Prime starring Shahid Kapoor, directed by Raj & DK.
Q. When you look back at the year gone by, how was 2020 for you?
It was a fairly good year for me as far as work is concerned. I’m fortunate to have two big releases this year. The first one being She on Netflix just when the lockdown started in March and The Missing Stone on Christmas. Other than that it was a difficult year because of the pandemic but there was a lot of learning, self-introspection and personal development. So it was a fairly good year for me.
Q. What was lockdown learning for you?
I had left for my farmhouse a few days before the lockdown was announced officially with a cousin. We ended up there for one month. We would workout, read, cook and binge on shows. It was a great foundation for us to spend the rest of the lockdown when we got back home – which was s difficult task in itself. The lockdown made me pick up the pencil after school. I used to draw my own original cartoon characters back in school and during the lockdown, I was remaking my old creations. I was regularly working out at home, and being of help in the house to my family, reading and binging on films and shows. My greatest learning would be the realisation how important it is to stay physically fit and take care of your mental health.
Q. What did you miss the most doing this year and why?
I missed travelling the most this year. I’m an avid traveller and during the monsoon, I take a trip to Europe every year, which I couldn’t unfortunately. I had Portugal and Germany in my itinerary this year. I was also going to plan a trip to Spiti Valley in spring which was quashed by the pandemic. Travelling won’t be the same in 2021 but I look forward to it.
Q. What was the best moment for you in 2020?
I was elated when She released on Netflix. Coming on Netflix is every actor’s dream and mine came true when the lockdown was about to start. I’m fortunate to have worked under Imtiaz Ali sir who is phenomenal. I am proud that my performance was appreciated by him, the directors and the team. I am happy that the audience’s response was quite positive.
Q. What do you believe will change for the entertainment industry going ahead after this year?
What happened was a natural calamity. It was something unexpected. Like a natural calamity, a pandemic is also an act of God. Any amount of meticulous planning is futile against it as it can strike anytime and the effects can not be predicted. So I don’t think there would be any major changes in the entertainment industry, except working with social distancing and other Covid guidelines. I’m looking forward to more heart touching and moving stories of people during the lockdown from around the world being told via the medium.
Q. What are your hopes from 2021?
I like to take one day at a time. I do hope that this year humanity will triumph over this virus and we can get back to the old normal. I also hope that we all would learn a valuable lesson and bring about the necessary changes in our lifestyles to be more healthy and have a healthier planet. I’m a hopeless optimist. We all have a conscience that needs to be heard which I hope would happen after all the suffering and pain we suffered in 2020, and we can be more kind, accepting, tolerant, peaceful and empathise with each other.