Saba Azad Opens Up About Her Journey in Industry and Upcoming Series 'Crime Beat'

After being seen in the web series Who's Your Gynac, Saba Azad is making her comeback with Crime Beat. This series is an exciting crime thriller about an ambitious journalist. In her recent media interaction, Saba shared her experiences in the industry, working with Saqib after so many years, her character in the show, and touched upon the topics related to journalism. Here’s what she had to say.

You come from a theatre family. Despite that, when you first entered the industry, how much did you have to change yourself to fit in?

Honestly, nothing felt new to me because I come from a theatre family. I have been acting since childhood, so this wasn’t something unfamiliar. Every field has its own struggles and joys, and I came into this industry with a lot of expectations. Even now, I still feel that those expectations remain inside me.

Your web series Crime Beat is coming back. You are working with Saqib again after 14 years. What was your experience working with him this time, and how is Saqib as a person beyond being a co-actor?

Saqib is a unique individual. When he’s on set, he doesn’t sit still. He brings a different kind of energy with him. He shares a special bond with everyone on set, whether it's the lighting man or the spot boy. I worked with him in Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge , and back then, he used to call me “sabzi” and I used to call him “Salima.” Now, 14 years later, when we are working on this show, there was no need to remind each other of anything. We just slipped back into that comfort zone effortlessly. While shooting, I used to tease him a little on set.

There’s a dialogue in your show, " Upar jaane ke liye tedha hona padta hai." How much do you agree with this in your personal life?

In life, there’s no need to become "crooked" (or bend). Many people are living their lives in a straightforward way, and there are also people who get things done by taking shortcuts. I choose to live my life the first way, straightforwardly. Let others do what they wish, but I will do things my way.

Your character in Crime Beat seems to be quite competitive. Have you ever felt pressure or fear of competition in the industry?

No, I’ve never felt that. I think the competition should be with yourself. The real question is, “Is there any difference between the Saba of ten years ago and the Saba today?” That is the more important comparison. If we start competing with others, we’ll forget ourselves.

If you had to investigate one subject and one person in the industry as a journalist, what would it be?

In this industry, I would choose the subject “Why do women get paid less than men?” and as for the person, I’d love to interview Fidel Castro (the former President of Cuba). When he visited India, my grandfather met him. He’s one of my favorite historical figures.

In your long career, has there ever been a time when you were replaced by another actress for a role?

Well, that’s why we have auditions! Auditions often involve situations like that. The number of rejections an actor faces in a day is something no other career option experiences. But the person who keeps going despite hearing “no” so many times surely has something special about them, that’s why they’re still going.

Earlier, your name was Saba Singh Grewal, and now you use Saba Azad. Can we know the reason behind this change?

Yes, my surname was Grewal, and it’s still the same on my passport. Actually, “Azad” was my grandmother's pet name, and I really liked it. I asked her if I could take that name, and she happily agreed. That's when I decided to add it to my name.

Film Career

Talking about her film career, Saba Azad has been a part of movies like Dil Kabaddi, Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge, Shuddh Shakahari, Jude Hue, Ishq Lagta Hai, web series Rocket Boys, and Who’s Your Gynac?.

Saba is not only an actress but also a singer. She runs a band called Madboy/Mink with actor Naseeruddin Shah's son, Imaad Shah. She has also lent her voice to films like Shaandaar, Carvaan and Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota.

You can catch Saba Azad and Saqib in Crime Beat, which will be streaming from February 21, 2025, on ZEE5.

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