Huma Qureshi wants to empower women by taking on strong female characters

The actor’s maiden production, Double XL, is an attempt to shatter beauty stereotypes

One of the first dialogues Huma Qureshi uttered in her debut film, Gangs of Wasseypur was to do with consent: “Permission leni chahiye na?” she tells Faizal Khan (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) sternly when he puts his hand on hers. Her character in the film, Mohsina, was no damsel in distress. In spite of having a dangerous lover in the form of Khan, she doesn’t let him touch her without her permission. 

That was 10 years ago. In the decade that has followed, the New Delhi girl has gone from strength to strength. Movies such as Ek Thi Daayan, Dedh Ishqiya and Badlapur cemented what everyone knew about her—that she is a force to reckon with. Qureshi made her Hollywood debut last year with Army of the Dead and forayed into the digital space with Deepa Mehta’s Leila and the critically acclaimed Maharani. This year has been a power-packed one for her so far. Her Tamil film, Valimai, received positive reviews while her special performance in the song Shikayat in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi drew praise for its theatrical and nuanced portrayal of the qawaali.

Now, the actress is geared up to break beauty stereotypes with her maiden production Double XL under her banner, Elemen3 Entertainment. Bollywood and body positivity have not exactly shared warm vibes. If you are not in possession of a patli kamar or a chest size that’s perfect for a dhak-dhak dance, chances have been high that filmmakers didn’t even look your way, forget about the audience. With time, however, there has emerged a new clutch of curvier actresses and brave filmmakers trying to send out the message that you can be a Bollywood heroine without being size zero.   

In Double XL, Qureshi and Sonakshi Sinha play plus-size characters who are out to challenge the norms for women set by society. In a candid interview with The Established, Qureshi tells us why.    

Double XL is a special film for you—not just because it is your first production venture, but it is a subject close to your heart. Can you tell us more about that? 

When I came to Mumbai from New Delhi, it was wonderful that I got a chance to work in the movies. In that sense, I am living my dream now. I have no regrets, no angst. I think God and this industry have really rewarded me in every way. Having said that, when I did my second film Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, there was a reviewer who wrote: ‘Huma Qureshi is a lovely actor and has a very bright future but maybe she is five kilos too heavy to be a mainstream Hindi heroine’. That really hurt. It was hard enough that I was trying to make it in the industry as an outsider but I was subjected to superficial comments about my body. 

I have always believed that some of the biggest talents have been in spite of their looks, not because of them. Yet, we keep trying to push the idea that the mainstream Hindi hero or heroine needs to look a certain way. I’ve been in the business for a decade now. I have done everything from indie films to commercial blockbusters to shows to international films to pan-India films. I feel that as women, we are under so much scrutiny constantly to fit into a mould. If today, I am in a position where I can put my money where my mouth is, then I want to empower women to not feed into the idea of the male gaze. 

How did Double XL come about? 

I think the idea (to produce) was already there but it also had a lot to do with opportunities, a little bit of luck, resources and meeting the right people and energy. While I definitely wanted to produce content and not just act in it, I also want to back content I believe in. I didn’t think this would be the first film; it happened quite organically. We didn’t even have a proper office when we started the film. We finally opened our office a few months ago. The journey of making this film has been truly special.

Right from your debut film, Gangs of Wasseypur, to Dedh Ishqiya and Badlapur and becoming one of the first mainstream actors to do an OTT show—do you think the creative risks you’ve taken have been worth it?

Only time can tell. But have I had fun? Absolutely! Have I grown as a person? A 100 per cent. I think, for me, one of the bravest decisions was to do a show like Maharani. There were so many doubts in my head before I agreed to it, primarily because I was transitioning from the silver screen to an OTT platform. I am a film heroine. People will think I am not getting work in films if I choose to play a de-glam village woman with three kids. Playing teen bachchon ki maa means one’s career is over!

Honestly, Maharani has been a game-changer for me. That show has given me so much love. It has led to many makers having the faith in me to lead a film or show on my shoulders. I guess one just has to be true to themselves and I am just trying to be true to who I am. I would get very bored doing the same thing repeatedly but now I am just having fun with my craft as an actor. Also, there are women before me who have shattered the glass ceiling and paved the path for people like me. I hope to do that for others through my work. 

With Double XL, the film took shape in my living room where Sonakshi (Sinha), Saqib (Saleem), Mudassar (Aziz), Zaheer (Iqbal) and I were chatting about how we haven’t trained in so long as gyms had been shut during the lockdowns. Sona and I spoke about how people keep picking on us about our bodies. Mudassar thought we should do a film on this subject and it could only be with us because the two of us have been at the receiving end of this shaming throughout our careers. While we are talking about body positivity among women in the film, it could pertain to men too. My character Rajshri Trivedi is someone who dreams of becoming a sports commentator. She is a misfit in that world, so when people root for her, it will be a victory for every person who dares to dream beyond their limit. The film is for all misfits.

You will also be seen playing renowned chef Tarla Dalal in her biopic. A first biopic for you, too. How has the experience been so far?  

This is also the first time I am playing someone who is not North Indian. I am very good with accents, especially with any Khadi Boli dialects but it’s only been 10 years for me in Mumbai. While I know a few smatterings of Gujarati and Marathi, they don’t come naturally to me. To do my first biopic about a Gujarati lady who lived at Nepean Sea Road in Mumbai, I would hate myself if I got it wrong; I hate it when people play caricatures. I find it extremely disrespectful when the way a certain community speaks is made fun of. Tarlaji has been such a trailblazer that we want to do justice to her memories, as well as for her family and her fans. I knew it would be difficult because her work is so well documented. In my performance, I have tried to capture the essence of who she was as opposed to doing her mimicry. I hope it connects with people.

You have worked with some very interesting directors who have given you challenging roles. How has that contributed to your growth as an actor? 

Working with the right people is always gratifying. I think I have evolved as a performer and I have really enjoyed working with people such as Deepa Mehta and Subhash Kapoor. Even to do one song with Bhansali sir was an experience to cherish. He is the kind of person who would go all out to create that perfect shot and I love that because he is trying to make something bigger than himself. In Monica, O My Darling (which releases next week), I play a character at ease with her sexuality. It was so much fun and yet empowering.

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