‘If I had chosen to sell kebabs, it’d be easier for me’

Is there favouritism in Bollywood? You bet there is, says actor Huma Qureshi. “Anybody who says that favoritism doesn’t exist in Bollywood, would be lying,” she says. At the same time, she isn’t greatly bothered about it. “I can completely understand that nobody chooses to be born into a given family,” says the actor. “Anyway, it’s not a blame game where I’m trying to put down another person and say that somebody else does not deserve [to be] where they are in their career.” Huma, 30, adds that it takes hard work, talent and determination to become successful.

Drawing a parallel between industry progeny aka ‘star kids’ and her own family background, Huma points out that because her father Saleem Qureshi owns a restaurant chain in Delhi, “if I had chosen to sell kebabs, it would be far easier for me than for anybody else”.

While hard work remains vital, “the opportunities that come to you are far easier; the projects that are offered to you are far bigger; the budget sanctioned for the films you do would be much bigger”, says Huma, adding that the same doors might not open for people who’re talented but not connected to a film family.

But after that headstart, the star kids have to prove their mettle, she feels. “Not all are starting from the same line; however, the finishing line is the same,” states Huma. “We all have to show how much money our films make, or how many awards we win, or what critical acclaim our films get.”