Therapeutic is how Saqib Saleem describes his maiden collaboration with filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, on his latest series, Crime Beat. The actor, who plays a rookie crime journalist in the Zee5 show, says while he was intimidated by the maverick initially, he was in awe of Mishra’s spirited nature by the end of the shoot. “Once you get to know him, you realise he is younger than you at heart. He has a great sense of humour and is an ideal director for actors because he empowers them. It was a therapeutic experience working with him. I feel I have come out as a better artiste. He was always trying to figure out how to best express his thoughts and story. That was inspiring. After so many years, only if you still have that desire and zeal, can your work stand out,” he says. 

Nurturing collaborations and meaty parts are what Saleem craves the most after completing 14 years in the industry across mediums. “I am hungry for parts that allow me to show my diversity. I don’t have the luxury of choice. I have to make do with the opportunities I create for myself, then pick the best one out of the lot,” says the actor, while acknowledging how OTT has helped him in his pursuit. He was previously seen in Kakuda (2024) and Citadel: Honey Bunny (2024).