Exclusive - Saba Azad reveals people do get cast based on the social media followers, 'even if they're not actors'

Saba Azad will be seen with Saqib Salim in Crime Beat.

Actress Saba Azad will be seen playing the role of a crime reporter in the upcoming thriller series on 'Zee5—'Crime Beat.'. Saba is reuniting with her Mujhse Fraandship Karogi co-star and actor Saqib Salim after a gap of almost 14 years. And the actress said the two 'took off from where they had left' and that they had been in touch with each other over the years.

In an exclusive conversation with Money Control, Saba also spoke about the rising paparazzi culture in the industry and if she feels it is intruding into the celebs personal lives or not. But Saba says that they can all co-exist and that paps have always been very cordial with her. She said that the 'person taking the photograph is also trying to earn his living.'

When quizzed about whether the number of followers on social media actually helps one get work, she agreed and said, "People are being cast as actors based on the followers that they have, even if they're not actors or have had no interest in acting before."

Saba was a theater actor before making a move to Bollywood. She started doing theater from the tender age of four and has always loved being on the stage.

Saba, who is also a singer, writer, and producer, says she enjoys the craft and loves to create things. She said we need to continuously evolve and keep thinking in the field of performing arts.

Saba agreed that for actors, social media can be a double-edged sword—a platform to showcase their talent and connect with fans, but also a source of scrutiny and pressure.

"Social media numbers get you roles," says Saba, echoing the sentiments of many young actors today. "People are being cast as actors based on the followers that they have, even if they're not actors or have had no interest in acting before."

As an actor who has been in the industry for over 15 years, Saba has seen the landscape change dramatically. We quizzed her about the OTT boom, and she credits OTT platforms for providing a new lease of life for many actors and creators.

"OTT has been fantastic," she says. "It's opened up content in a way that perhaps wasn't possible before. So many brilliant actors, so many brilliant storytellers, scriptwriters, and directors have been able to express their creative ability through OTT."

Excerpts from the exclusive interview:

Was a nervous child, more comfortable in my skin 

I think I'm a lot more comfortable in my skin now, than I was before. I was a very nervous child, I think I'm a little less so now. And, I think the excitement is still the same. And, perhaps, the process is a little more, a more intense version of the the same thing that before. Like, I really like getting into, like, the story of a character and building their whole life and, you know, getting into that. I really enjoy that. Like and I always come with a lot of notes and sitting with the director and kind of, you know, understanding what they're looking for. And I love rehearsals, and I think that one thing that stayed consistent from then to now is that I still love rehearsal. And So I do my best to do as much of that as I can.

On her role in Crime Beat 

The good thing that, about this was that my parents' friends lost them growing up with journalists. So, I kind of, you know, I took bits and bobs out of that. And my observation of them growing up. And, observe that in general. But I think you know, this character honestly could been placed into any world. The idea was to look for the opposite within the character. She could have been in the corporate world, she could have been a doctor, she could have been anything else. The world was built really beautifully because this book about, book was written by Somnath Batabyal, in which the, the show is based. And, he kind of built and he himself was investigative journalism journalism as well. So the world was built really beautifully by him. So, you know, all the trappings of the journalistic world was kind of presented to us. And, after that, it was really all about finding the honesty in the character.

Reunion with Saqib Salim

Saba: Exactly. As you said, we started from where we left. I mean, it's like making a film with a friend. So it's there's a little bit comfort level. So, and also because we've been in touch. We didn't lose touch. In fact, all people on that film, we've kind of remained in touch. And when you start out, you know, when you're that little and you're starting out together, your journey it was my second film. It was his first film. You know, you're really rooting for those people. You really want them to win. You really want them when they succeed, you kind of feel like a part of you has succeeded. I don't know how to explain this feeling. So, I think that we've always kind of rooted for each other, and Saqib and I get along like a house on fire. We get each other. We're really great friends. You know, in terms of, like, when we hang out, it's like banter, banter, banter, and the comfort is there. So, I think that really helped to kind of ease us into the role because it's like, diametrically opposite to what Fraandship was. That was like a college romance privilege of we've gone straight into, like, a gritty thriller. So, it was really a lot of fun kind of sinking our teeth into something different together. But, yeah, great experience all in all.

Social media following does get you roles 

Saba: I have a I have a bit of a love hate relationship with social media. I'll be really honest. I'm not very good with posting. Sometimes I'll post, like, three times, three days in a row, and then I'll be gone for two months then I won't post. But I also find that social media has been fantastic when it comes to actually getting authentic news or shrinking the world in a way, where we are being able to see what's happening in the world in our in our palms, which perhaps wasn't happening before. So, you know, there's good points and they're not so good points, but life isn't on social media. Life exists elsewhere. Having said that, people are also being cast as actors based on the followers that they have, even if they're not actors or have had no interest in acting before. Now people are turning to social media to be like, it's cool. Let's cast this person or, they're getting work through social media. I myself get brand work through social media. So there pros and cons. And, I think the one thing that you must and we all must remember given that we are all consumed by it so much and so much of our life is spent on it, is that life is happening while, social media is existing. There's also real life away from our phone screens. So, as long as, you know, you're grounded in reality about that that is not real life, that's reel life and this is real life that you must live in, I think will be you'll be alright.

Love to do challenging roles 

Saba: I don't think, as an actor, I have the liberty to choose a genre. I don't think I don't think it's about my favourite genre. It's it's more about how challenging is the role and how different is it from the one that I played before. So, like, you know, a while back, I did this LGBTQI, love story called Feels Like Ishk. Right after that, I did Rocket Boys, and Rocket Boys has been a historical character. It is set in a time that we don't live in, and we haven't been a part of, so we don't know what it was like. So, you know, it was really interesting to kind of do that, and then from that going to, 'Who's Your Gynac', who is a doctor but was a light hearted story, and then from that to go into a gritty thriller like Crime Beat.

So, I think the idea at all times is to keep myself challenged and interested because I'm very easily bored. So, I need to keep myself, you know, interested. And, that's why I lean into films that, and and scripts that keep me on my toes, and I don't so I don't get complacent. I don't think it's about genre. It's about how challenging is the role. Even comedy, in fact, I'd go as fast as the comedy is one of the toughest things to do. Like, I know we're doing a thriller right now, and, right before that, I shot for a comedy. And I have to say, you know, getting that right is also equally hard. So I enjoy all of it.

Theatre and silver screen - both are my favourite 

Saba: Both. I think that, honestly, they're very different crafts. Yes. You know? Because people are like, oh, yeah. Acting but it's any different. Working with a live audience is a totally different experience. Also, then you have that one take to get it right. Right? You're on stage. And that's it. That's your one chance to get it right. But acting on screen is a entirely different beast. It's a it's a entirely technical craft. It's so technical, sometimes you kind of lose, you know, the flow of, you know, being able to do a whole scene. You don't have the luxury of that to be able because you have to take it from 10 different angles. I mean, it's a very technical craft. It's a perhaps a little less free than being on stage. The stage cannot can be, perhaps a little more freeing in a way, but I can't choose because, they're so different, and they're so enjoyable in their own places. I don't think I'd choose.

On growing paparazzi culture- we can co-exist, never harassed by them

Saba: All actors go through that, I think. But I think, if you look at it like, you know, the person taking the photograph who's trying to, you know, do that, he's also trying to earn his living. So, in a way, if I'm not hostile, I'm actually contributing to his life in a way. If I know it feels like a larger system and the morbid curiosity with people's lives is not and to be honest, I am a very private person, and I'm a very socially awkward person. It is that, you know, absolute contrast with the fact that I'm an actor, and I love being on stage. But, you know, in real life, I'm very socially awkward. I'll be that person standing or sitting in a corner, in a large group of friends. So, it's not easy for anybody to be on display at all times. And and I can't say I enjoy it, but I can't say I don't understand it.

That man's also trying to take food back to his family. And that's the medium he's found. That, you know, if I get a photo of this person and, honestly, I'm not really harassed by paps at all. I don't really. It's not like it's all the time for me. It's not. It's once in a way at some event or something. That's it. And I've never been treated badly or, no one's ever misbehaved with me, and it's okay. They're trying to do their job, and I'm doing my bit by saying, ki mujhe jana hai. And that's it. To each their own, and we can all coexist peacefully without making an ordeal out of it.

OTT is a lease of life for many people 

Saba: OTT has been a lease of life for a lot of people. It's actually opened up content in a way and script and storytelling in a way that perhaps since I was slightly restricted and couldn't because, you know, you got that so much riding on it. No. OTT is taking taking all the risks. And I think I'm really thankful for it because so many brilliant actors, so many brilliant storytellers, scriptwriters, directors have been able to express their creative ability, through OTT. And, I think that it's unparalleled the contribution OTT has had over the past, what, six years? Six, seven years, it's that been a sea of change. And, I'm really thankful for it because, I mean, I'm also reaping the benefits of that.

The ability to create beautiful, incredible stories very much lies within the Indian subcontinent. And I can't say that if OTT wasn't there, we would have gotten lost. I think I'm certain creativity would have found a way to express itself. But, how wonderful that we have OTT, and it found that outlet. And I think even cinema feels more emboldened by seeing that so many people are consuming different content, content that may not be down the centre commercial. So, I think it's it's been great for everybody that OTT is coming.

What do you enjoy the most - Singing, acting or writing

Saba: I think, when you enjoy things, you take out time for them. Like, you know, like, I'll just take an example of a woman. Right? A working woman. Any working woman, she goes to work, she comes back home, she takes care of the whole house. She's taking care of the children, school stuff,  her family, her own health. How does she do it? She's multitasking. And also maybe at some level, it's about what you want to do as well. Like, I as an actor, as a musician, as, all the things that I do, it gives me joy. So, I take out time for it. And I think also Performing Arts blend really beautifully to each other. I started out as a theatre artist at the age of four. I come from a theatre family. I was already on stage at the age of four. And there was a choir within the theater group. So singing and acting kind of went together anyway. So for me, it was like, oh, it's one and the same thing. And, we we sing in this theatre group. And so, I never saw a separation between the performing arts. I just saw them as creative mediums, all outlets for my need to create. So, it's never come in the way one has never come in the way of the other.

Saba talks about her 'aa ha' point in creative process 

Saba: I find that everything every story, every song, every play has a different Aaaha point as I call it. You know, where you know, you're like, oh, we should do this. And, oh, you know, all the ideas born from there. Sometimes I'm watching a film, you know, and the idea of a song comes up from the start. Sometimes you know, listening to music and then you start writing script. It's born out of thin air sometimes. So, I think there's no singular process. I think the idea is to actually show up every day with curiosity. And if you're curious and if you feed the urge to create and you fuel yourself with good cinema, good music, good books. I think you're, in general, inspired, and you're just like, you know, you you want to create.

Saba made her Bollywood debut in 2008 with the film 'Dil Kabaddi' and later got love for role in the romantic comedy 'Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge' (2011) where she was paired opposite Saqib Salim. She also played the role of Dingo in the 2016 web series, Ladies Room.

With her thoughtful insights and candid reflections, Saba Azad offers a refreshing perspective on the world of entertainment and social media.

Saba will be seen in the upcoming show Crime Beat which is going to stream on Zee 5 from February 21.