A greatly talented girl, Huma Qureshi speaks at great relish about experiences in the entertainment industry, entering the writing arena, and some of her keen plans for the future.
Take Off
Born and raised in Delhi, Huma Qureshi instantly pops into the mind as a name that is associated with versatility and excellence in the Indian film industry. While her father, Saleem Qureshi, runs restaurants, Huma opted for another avenue that took her into the glamour world of cinema. She was actively involved in theatre while doing her BA in History from Gargi College. She directed and produced a few plays there and played the lead in many. Her passion for acting finally brought her to Mumbai, after which she decided to take a plunge into acting.
Huma began her career with advertisements and became a known face very rapidly. Her first commercial featured Abhishek Bachchan and fetched her ₹5,000. And that was just the starting of things. Her career took off when she was offered an advertisement for one lakh not long after. Her casting in the critically acclaimed film “Gangs of Wasseypur,” directed by Anurag Kashyap, turned out to be a major break in her career, wherein that established her as an impressive talent in Bollywood and shot her right to limelight.
Get a Break with the Best
Not only was Huma’s performance in “Gangs of Wasseypur,” a breakthrough work; actually, she began her career with that. The film shaped the career of quite a few actors and technicians who are looked upon as a cult classic today. Says Huma while reminiscing over the experience—acknowledging challenges and pure joy of working on a film this unique.
Digital Sweetheart
She was the first Indian woman to have a solo series on Netflix, “Leila,” back in 2019. Many were skeptical initially, but Huma had no doubts—this was the right way to ride the OTT wave. It not only boosted her confidence but also opened doors for her in Hollywood—one of them being for “Army of the Dead”. She was working on “Jolly LLB 2” and the political drama series “Maharani” with Subhash Kapoor; both only sealed her reputation once more as that versatile actor.
Substantial Women
The kind of variety and challenging roles which directors have given her in the past couple of years are incredible on their own for Huma. She proved her versatility as an actress through all sorts of things, from the biographical “Tarla” to the drama “Monica, O My Darling.” In the portrayal of famous cookbook author Tarla Dalal, Huma found great value taken in since it could give her an opportunity to express very vividly what a woman’s journey could be who breaks societal norms.
Words Have Power.
Interestingly, Huma began writing due to boredom. Her freshman novel, “Zeba: An Accidental Superhero, that read proved her imagination and creativity. Huma was influenced to pen down her novel because of her interests in comic books, for it matched her goals and experiences.
Meandering In My Mind
Huma loves to be a wanderer, explore new places, and taste the local cuisine. She has taken most of the sweet memories of dipping in the Adriatic Sea during her recent trip to Croatia. For Huma, traveling is a must because it can provide her with an excellent combination of adventure and leisure for her to relax and refresh herself.
Keep on being Skintastic!
Much like she does with acting, Huma sticks to a strict regime when it comes to beautification. Skincare has always been at the top of her list, especially when traveling. Sheet masks, moisturizers, serums, lip balms, and sunscreen top her travel must-haves.
What’s Next?
Huma fans have much to look forward to. Her next films, such as “Single Salma” and “Pooja Meri Jaan”, seem to make for exciting additions to her great repertoire of work, more so now that “Maharani 3” is already out.
