I always knew I can say no to a film: Huma Qureshi

Huma Qureshi shot to limelight with her role in the two-part crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur. She has been part of several offbeat films but the actor feels that Gangs… was a career-defining film for her and has given her a position in the industry where she can even refuse a film.

“We knew we had made something worthwhile but nobody thought it would be so big. People often used to wonder what film is that. Why are there two films? Why couldn’t it be made into one? It was my first film and I had no answers. And then the film was such a big hit. I owe my career to Gangs...,” she says.

The Jolly LLB 2 actor was in Lucknow for a private event and was all the more excited to be in the city of Nawabs as she says it has been lucky for her.

“I love Lucknow. I have shot two films here and it’s been a lucky city for me. So coming back here is like home coming. Also I get to have Lucknow’s chaat because it’s a sheer delicacy. People keep asking me all the time about the famed kebab’s but my only response is that I belong to a family running restaurants. I have grown up eating kebabs, biryaani so Lucknow kebabs too taste quite similar. And then as a daughter I am biased towards my father’s recipes of Kebabs,” she says with her charming smile.

On being asked whether working with actor Nawazuddin Sidiqui brings out best in her, she laughs and says, “Why can’t it be other way round. Maybe I bring out the best in him. I am actually more comfortable with him as a co-star. When I was offered Badlapur I was offered the role of Varun Dhwan’s wife but I opted for the other character because though being a small it had substance and of course it was paired with Nawazuddin. So more than costar or length of characters I look for content in a script.”

Categorising herself as a method actor she says, “All actors have their way of portraying a character. When I take up a role I try being spontaneous and also my observing power comes handy. Then being from a society where you have been urban middle class you know what life is in reality. Also when you make a place in an industry without being an insider you learn your lessons well. Today maybe I have made a small place for myself in the industry but even when I was newcomer I always knew that I can say no to a film if the script didn’t made sense to me.”

On sharing screen with her brother Saqib Saleem in 2017 release Dobarra, Huma says: “When I was offered the film the first thing on my mind was I’ve never worked with my brother before. We are the first brother-sister duo in Indian cinema to have done a film where we’re playing siblings. It was fun and I would like to work with him in future too because he’s such a witty actor.”

On career point her top project is Tamil film Kaala where she is paired opposite superstar Rajinikanth. The film is directed by Pa. Ranjith and she plays the character of Zareena. The film is slated for 2018 release.

“I am very excited about the film. I feel very privileged and blessed. He is one of the biggest superstars of this country and working with him is like one thing off the bucket list,” she says.

I love Lucknow. I have shot two films here and it’s been a lucky city for me. So coming back here is like home coming. HUMA QURESHI ACTOR

PHOTO: DHEERAJ DHAWAN