Breaking into Bollywood as an outsider is no easy feat, and if you happen to be a woman, the path can be even more challenging. Yet, despite these odds, Huma Qureshi has carved out a significant place for herself in the industry. She is not a star kid, nor did she have any powerful backing – her journey is purely fuelled by talent and unyielding determination.
In a recent event, Huma candidly shared her journey in Bollywood. She said, “As a woman from outside the industry, my path in Bollywood has been anything but smooth. There are still roles I know I can play perfectly, yet I don’t get called for them. But should I sit and cry over it? Absolutely not! I am working on my own terms, and I will continue to do so.”
Reflecting on the industry’s mindset, she added, “After successful projects like ‘Maharani’ and ‘Tarla,’ a casting director once called me and said, ‘You are so beautiful, why do you take on roles where you appear older?’ Apparently, some directors want to cast me in younger roles, but they feel I’m missing out because I’m willing to portray characters with the weight of age. What a strange mentality! Why are women always pressured to look 10 years younger on screen?”
Huma believes that to prove oneself in this industry, one must be bold. She said, “I’ve done my share of dancing around trees and posing in picturesque locations, but I don’t want to take that path anymore. If the script is good, I am happy to take on characters older than my real age. I have no fear in that.”
Speaking about her career choices, Huma stated clearly, “I had two options – one was to go for one cosmetic surgery after another and wait for directors to call me, and the other was to pick up strong scripts and play courageous roles. I chose the latter.”
Fans will soon see Huma in ‘Jolly LLB 3’, alongside Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi. She will also be returning in the fourth season of the popular web series ‘Maharani’.
Critics believe that in an industry known for its harsh standards, Huma Qureshi has become a true inspiration for those trying to make it on their own terms.