He is best known for his collaborations with director Gautham Vasudev Menon, having notably appeared as the antagonist in the police dramas Gharshana (2004) and Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006).
Junior Mumbai competition, he received a call from director Teja who subsequently cast him in the Telugu action film, Jai (2004).
The film's cinematographer Ravi Varman introduced him to director Gautham Vasudev Menon, who gave Salim his acting breakthrough, by casting him as a notorious gangster seeking revenge in the police drama Gharshana (2004).
About his performance, a critic from Indiaglitz.com wrote "newcomer Saleem Baig, despite a poor voice (dubbed), as the cold-blooded, revenge-seeking Panda is first rate" and that "he never misses a trick in the book and triumphs in this significant role for him".
[2][3] The opportunity allowed him to work on more big budget Telugu films such as Chiranjeevi's Andarivaadu (2005), Jagapati (2005) and Andhrudu (2005) during the following year.