Democratisation of content is liberating: Huma
The year 2019 turned out to be a double dhamaka for actor Huma Qureshi and that’s not an exaggeration. She not only captivated the audience with her subtle, measured performance in Deepa Mehta’s dark dystopian series Leila, but also landed a role in Hollywood filmmaker Zack Snyder’s Army of The Dead, slated for a web release.
And, what’s more? The 33-year-old even bagged a spot in a list of New Wave Actors in the US. “It has been a game changer. I feel excited and blessed to have got this opportunity, and be recognised for my work,” says Huma about Leila, a web series which gave her a rare platform to depict a range of emotions.
The web medium, she avers, has driven the changes in the tone and tenor of content, as well as opened up unprecedented opportunities for artistes to collaborate with people across the globe. “With new players entering the market (in the OTT space) , it changes the entire dynamics. And that, as an actor, is exciting. You’re thinking of creativity in a whole different way, and you’re not dictated by conventional theatrical wisdom and constraints. That’s very liberating and satisfying,” says Huma.
The actor admits that the global recognition that she received after Leila’s success brought her the opportunity to work with Snyder. She says, “I think, I wouldn’t have got an opportunity to work with a director as big as Zack Snyder — who I have been such a huge fan of — had it not been for Leila. I feel like this is going to throw up opportunities for many, and it is happening in a democratic way. I call it the democratisation of content globally.”
Huma was excited and pleasantly surprised when she featured in the New Wave Actors list by Film Independent. “It was quite surprising because we’re doing films in India and humko lagta hai ki hamaari duniya yahin hai... But it makes you realise that people are watching your work, and they are interested in what you’re doing. Whether it is Sacred Games or Delhi Crime, today, with the kind of shows we are doing, they’re being counted among all international shows, and we are making good quality stuff for the global audience,” she says.
However, the versatile actor is tight-lipped about her upcoming projects. Keeping the curiosity alive, she says, “Let the producers make an announcement.”