“I'VE NEVER WANTED TO BE AN ‘IT' GIRL.”

Huma Qureshi is the current toast of the town. It has been a phenomenal year for her—Huma’s Netflix debut Leila has garnered much applause from all corners, and she has a prestigious Hollywood project in the pipeline. But our cover star has much more pressing issues to discuss...like the lack of female talent working behind the scenes in Bollywood, why young women should focus on developing a personality (and not just their looks), and the ‘size’ debate that refuses to die down.

- Sreeparna Mazumder

Our July cover girl Huma Qureshi is living the dream. In 2012, she made her debut with the critically-acclaimed Gangs of Wasseypur and since then, she has broken stereotypes with author backed roles in films like Dedh Ishqiya (2014), Badlapur (2015), and Viceroy’s House (2017). 2019 has been a fabulous year for her so far. She represented India at the coveted 72nd Cannes Film Festival, and her Netflix debut, Leila, is garnering praise from both Indian and international critics.

As we settle down to chat in-between shots (which are happening inside a life-size refrigerator with temperature colder than what Arctic seals can survive in— -10 degrees, BTW), Huma’s phone is on fire as congratulatory messages and calls are still pouring in. “I feel amazing and ecstatic,” she smiles. Based on Prayaag Akbar’s novel by the same name, the show is set in a dystopian world and follows the journey of Shalini (Huma’s character) who is searching for her missing daughter. After shows like Sacred Games and Ghoul, this is Netflix India’s third Original Series. It has been directed by Deepa Mehta who has previously directed socially conscious (and controversial) films like Fire, Earth, and Water. “A lot of people are saying that something like this has never been done in India, which is heartening to know. I feel humbled. Globally, digital platforms are churning out great content and I’m very happy to be a part of an Indian series that’s being considered to be at par with international films and shows,” Huma tells us.