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IN A CANDID CHAT, HUMA QURESHI TELLS JITESH PILLAAI HOW SHE NAVIGATED LIFE'S SHARP TURNS AND CAME ON TOP

- JITESH PILLAAI

Huma Qureshi is a gundi. She laughs when you tell her that. She says Delhi makes you street smart. Or rather, a street fighter. A girl has to be a little tough to survive in Delhi. And maybe it was street smart, that chutzpah, which helped her spread her wings and take flight in Bollywood. The story goes that she just packed her bag and came to Mumbai, trusting her luck and self-confidence to coast through. And wonder of wonders, she did. Of course, the transition hasn't been easy. She had to endure a whole lot of body shaming, which she has learnt to laugh off now. She knows the only way to silence the critics was through her work. Be it Dedh Ishqiya (2014), Badlapur (2015), Monica, O My Darling (2022) or Maharani (2021), she's a force to reckon with in all. In a free flowing tête-à-tête, she shares her insights about life and career while keeping mum on her love life. Excerpts:

It’s been 14 years since you moved to Mumbai. Do you feel like every film is a struggle?

Yes, every film feels like a return to the drawing board. As an actor and artiste, I find it uncomfortable to repeat myself. Especially as a decent looking woman, I should add, there’s a pressure to keep evolving and challenging myself. Actresses often face low expectations, treated as accessories to the hero’s journey with minimal roles. I want more: a diverse body of work.

Whether it’s playing Tarla with an accent, embodying a sultry character like Monica, or portraying a rustic Maharani, I’m always seeking new challenges. Reciting lines without depth would bore me.

You have to constantly validate yourself…