Saqib Saleem opens up on the trend of casting actors based on their follower count: ‘Not every influencer can be an actor’ – EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

Saqib Saleem who was last seen in ‘Citadel’, will next be starring in ‘Crime Beat’ which also has Saba Azad. Recently during a chat with ETime about

Crime Beat

, Saqib and Saba also opened up on social media and how they are affected by it. Opening up on it, the actor said, “I was very affected by social media. You are made to believe that this is the way of the world. It shouldn’t feel like a job. I am an actor, an artist. I’m not an

influencer

.”
He further added how these days actors are cast based on their follower count but an influencer cannot be an actor always and vice versa. He added, “So, suddenly lines are blurred. Now you want to cast someone because they have specific number of followers. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are good actors. They have been cast for followers. But good actors are sometimes not cast because they don’t have that many followers. I’m not saying good actors cannot be influencers and vice versa. Not every actor can be an influencer and not every influencer can be an actor.”
Saqib also revealed how he deals with it. “I just deleted Instagram one day. I had somehow gotten into a headspace where I was like, me controlling social media and social media not controlling me because it’s an endless pit. I can be on Instagram for 24 hours and still there can be something to explore. I cannot post everyday. I post only when there is something to post about.”