Friends or frenemies?
Bully or victim?
The Qureshi siblings talk about their love-hate relationship, fashion choices and career.
Photograph: Kind courtesy Saqib Saleem/Instagram
Huma Qureshi and Saqib Saleem are an adorable duo.
Rediff.com's Anita Aikara met the celebrity siblings at Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai where they spoke about the cute bond they share.
"Besides Huma, I have these four girls, who are all in different parts of the world, and they have been sending me rakhis every year," Saqib said.
"Somehow Huma has not been tying me a rakhi for the last two-three years. Because she is my friend now, so she ties me a friendship band," he joked.
"This year, I will gift her love. A brother can give his sister lots of love. I am going to open my heart to her all over again."
Photograph: Kind courtesy Huma Qureshi/Instagram
"I was a bully while growing up. Huma and I had our days. So there was a time when I was a very big bully," Saqib shared.
"Then suddenly she got this bulliness in her. She started behaving like this overprotective sister and would tell me what to do."
"Even now, we have our days. Monday to Wednesday it is me, then it is her, and over the weekend it is neither of us," he says.
When quizzed about something that fans don’t know about Huma, Saqib says, "Huma can be the most cranky person when she wakes up. Huma thinks I am the cranky one in the family, but it is actually her!"
The siblings recently walked the ramp for their friend Anvita Sharma’s brand Two Point Two at the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai.
Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
Talking about her friendship with Anvita, Huma says, "I have known Anvita for so many years now. She has been my biggest fan supporter and critic. After any red carpet appearance of mine, she would look at the picture and call me and say, ‘This is what was good; this is what you can improve on.’
"So for me today was a very proud moment and more than being nervous I was very excited to be wearing her clothing. Also to walk the ramp with Saqib was really special.
"Anvita’s clothes are very easy to wear. She is such a traveler and she has so many influences. I feel that wherever she has been as a person and an artist she has drawn from those influences, which reflect in her clothing. I love it!"
Saqib added that he has known the designer from their college days. "At that time, we had a fashion society where Anvita would design the clothes back then. It is really special for us because we have seen the growth in her; we have seen her travel the world. It just feels nice to walk for a friend. In return, she makes me look cool.
"I was a model before I became an actor. When I got backstage, the hustle and bustle reminded me of my modeling days.
"To be really honest, right before you get on the ramp there is a slight nervousness, but once you are on the ramp, it is all you. That’s what I did… I walked, smiled and winked. Also I had these lovely girls (Huma and Anvita) for company."
When quizzed about the most stylish person according to him, Saqib says, "It has to be David Beckham. He is immaculately styled and he’s got these amazing tattoos. Everything about him is so sexy. Beckham is the best styled person in the world."
Fashion for the actor is an ‘expression’.
"It is a way to express yourself. Fashion has to be individual and I like to express my fashion the way I style myself," he adds.
"You don’t have to be in somebody’s face to prove a point. You need to have your own sense of quirkiness in the way you dress. There has to be an element of surprise."
Does he prefer modeling to acting?
"I love acting. There is nothing in the world I would trade it for."
"I have modeled for about five years."
"I was the youngest model to ever do Wills and Lakme. At that time there used to be a Men’s Fashion Week."
"I started at the age of 17. I did it because it was giving me good pocket money. And in the process, I made some good friends."
Commenting about her inspiration behind the show, designer Anvita says, "My basic inspiration for the whole brand was to keep it agender."
"The kimono is a typical agender garment."
"I wanted to take that as an inspiration and deconstruct it into the modern times by giving it a sporty twist."
"As for why the siblings are here with me, it is because these were the people who pushed me to open a brand. They have a very special place in my heart."
