Versatile Pakistani actor Saleem Mairaj recently revealed a humorous incident where he was mistaken for Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui while waiting in line to collect his passport. During an appearance on the comedy show Gap Shab, hosted by Vasay Chaudhry, Saleem Mairaj opened up about various aspects of his career, including his frustration with constantly being compared to Bollywood actors.
He specifically shared his discomfort about being repeatedly compared to Nawazuddin Siddiqui, despite acknowledging the Indian actor’s talent. Saleem Mairaj expressed that while Nawazuddin Siddiqui is an exceptional actor, he finds it bothersome when people compare them. He added that he doesn’t understand why people do this an be ad wishes toppreciated for his work.
In response, the host Vasay Chaudhry suggested that perhaps people compare Saleem Mairaj to Nawazuddin Siddiqui because they believe he is one of the few actors capable of delivering equally powerful performances. However, Saleem insisted that other Indian actors known for their versatility, like Vijay Raaz and the late Irrfan Khan, are never compared to him, which he finds curious.
Saleem Mairaj went on to share how he has been asked about the comparison more than 200 times in various interviews, something he finds tiring. He emphasized that while he respects Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s craft, he does not enjoy being constantly compared to him.
One of the most amusing stories Saleem recounted on the show was an incident from years ago when he was in line to get his passport. He said that women in the queue mistook him for Nawazuddin Siddiqui, especially since Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s film Bajrangi Bhaijaan had just been released and was popular in Pakistan.
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The women looked at me and said, ‘He’s from Bajrangi Bhaijaan,’ Saleem Mairaj recalled, expressing his surprise that people recognized Nawazuddin Siddiqui but not him. This light-hearted story highlights Saleem’s desire to be appreciated for his work, not for his comparisons to Bollywood stars.
