Sliced up for the screen
Brunch|July 22, 2023
Movies and series about chefs are hard to pull off. But when done right, with a focus on the kitchen, the food and the people, they make for bingeworthy viewing
VIR SANGHVI
Sliced up for the screen

When I first interviewed Huma Qureshi four years ago, she was already a big star and, it was predicted, would rise even further. What I did not realise then, was that despite her success in mainstream (well, glamorous) roles, she would consciously-as Meryl Streep in the West, perhaps - try different kinds of parts, never repeating even the broad contours of a performance. This is hard to do in Bollywood, where roles for women are not as varied as they could be.

I was certainly not expecting to see her transform into a dumpy Gujarati lady as she does in Tarla, the new Zee5 movie on Tarla Dalal, the most influential Indian cookbook writer of the 20th century.

There another reason for my surprise. Huma comes from a celebrated family of restaurateurs, who run the respected Saleem chain of restaurants. She is not, what we Gujaratis would call, a dal-bhaatrotli-shaak kind of girl. And yet here she was, pretending to enjoy all the vegetarian food that Tarla Dalal cooked.

She says she was surprised herself by the things she had to say. "I had to try a vegetable biryani, to enjoy it and to say how delicious it was. I have been brought up to believe that biryani is always made with meat. When people compliment me on my performance, I say that if I was convincing when I appeared to enjoy the vegetable biryani, then yes, it was a good performance", she laughs.

Denne historien er fra July 22, 2023-utgaven av Brunch.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra July 22, 2023-utgaven av Brunch.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA BRUNCHSe alt
Rohit Chawla
Brunch

Rohit Chawla

Photographer, artist, @RohitChawlaPhotography_

time-read
1 min  |
November 02, 2024
Congratulations, it's a goal
Brunch

Congratulations, it's a goal

Lakeside vows, pastel palettes, bayous, backyards and boats. These celeb weddings are what modern fairytales are made of

time-read
2 mins  |
November 02, 2024
Rail against the machine
Brunch

Rail against the machine

Valay Shende's Virar Fast depicts more than Mumbai's constant state of rush. Despite the struggle, there's empathy too

time-read
2 mins  |
November 02, 2024
No need for soirée excuses
Brunch

No need for soirée excuses

Not all party guests are created equal. Make sure you have an escape plan, in case you're stuck with someone dull

time-read
2 mins  |
November 02, 2024
100 years, one epic dinner
Brunch

100 years, one epic dinner

How did the Hindustan Times celebrate its centenary in Delhi? With a lavish, ambitious dinner served by a top chef, in a magical garden. It can never be done again

time-read
3 mins  |
November 02, 2024
Sauce and sorcery
Brunch

Sauce and sorcery

Video projections on your plate, holograms dancing at the table, customised tunes with every course. Tech's coming to dinner. Will you reorder or reboot?

time-read
5 mins  |
November 02, 2024
Who hates the haters now?
Brunch

Who hates the haters now?

Online trolls used to terrify influencers. Now, hate is hardly a surprise. It's a sign of engagement, real viewers; a chance to clap back and wield power. Take a look

time-read
3 mins  |
November 02, 2024
Are you earring this?
Brunch

Are you earring this?

Don't put the heavy jewellery back in storage after the festivities. Stylists offer tips on how to wear them all year and still look chic

time-read
2 mins  |
November 02, 2024
Clash of clans: Festive edit
Brunch

Clash of clans: Festive edit

Set boundaries, ask your own questions, prep for the prying moments. Here's how to survive the family gathering without going nuts

time-read
2 mins  |
November 02, 2024
Krutika
Brunch

Krutika

Content creator, @TheMermaidScales

time-read
1 min  |
October 26, 2024