Peeping Moon.com has just learned that model and actor Saqib Saleem, who was seen in the John Abraham and Varun Dhawan action-comedy Dishoom last year, has joined Salman Khan and Bobby Deol in the big budget action-thriller to be directed by Remo Fernandez and produced by Ramesh Taurani.

Just three days ago, Taurani announced the arrival of Bobby Deol on board the film that has become one of Bollywood’s most anticipated ever since Salman was roped in to replace Saif Ali Khan in the first dark role of his meteoric career. Taurani, who had earlier worked with Bobby in Soldier and Naqaab, excitedly welcomed Bobby “to the family” by sharing the news of Twitter.

Peeping Moon.com has also learned that Bobby’s role was earlier offered to Emraan Hashmi. But it was on Salman’s insistence that Taurani brought Bobby into Race 3. This was rather nice of Salman. But then the large-hearted Bhaijaan is known to promote actors in the industry for whom he has a soft corner and in whose abilities he believes in.

Now comes the news of Saqib joining Salman, Bobby and Jacqueline Fernandez in one of Bollywood’s most popular franchises. Saqib made his Bollywood debut in the romantic comedy Mujhse Fraandship Karogein 2011 and was appreciated for his performance. Race 3 will most probably go on floors in November and director Remo is keen to begin shooting the film’s high octane action sequences first.

Earlier, there was a stir about certain changes Salman wanted introduced in Race 3 which now promises to be the big ticket release in Eid 2018. He reportedly wanted the intimate sequences toned down, the drugs scenes revised and more humour added to the script because the Race films catered mainly to families.

Salman’s take on Race 3 was that he didn’t want even one scene in the film that a family could not watch together. He refused to set a bad example for the kids among his fans and that’s why the steamy and drug peddling scenes had to be either toned down or knocked off. And since Anil Kapoor was not there to keep things light, Salman insisted on more humour being injected into the script of Race 3.