Name: Huma Qureshi
Profession: Actress, Producer, Author
Nationality: Indian
Known for: Gangs of Wasseypur, Dedh Ishqiya, Badlapur, Maharani (web series), Monica O My Darling
Biography:
Huma Saleem Qureshi was born on July 28, 1986, into a Muslim family in New Delhi, India. Her father, Saleem Qureshi, is a successful restaurateur who runs a chain of 10 restaurants called ‘Saleem’s’ in Delhi, while her mother, Ameena Qureshi, is of Kashmiri descent and works as a homemaker.
Growing up with three siblings, including her younger brother Saqib Saleem who also became an actor, Huma developed an interest in the arts from an early age.
Despite her family’s initial reservations about her pursuing acting as a career, Huma was determined to follow her passion. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in History with Honours from Gargi College, University of Delhi.
During her college years, she honed her acting skills by joining Act 1 theatre group under the mentorship of N.K. Sharma, participating in various theatrical productions that helped shape her artistic foundation.
In 2008, Huma made the bold decision to move to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting. Initially, she auditioned for a film called “Junction” which was never made, but this experience set her on a path that would eventually lead to stardom. To sustain herself, she signed a two-year contract with Hindustan Unilever to appear in television commercials.
This decision proved pivotal, as she went on to feature in numerous advertisements for brands like Samsung Mobile (with Aamir Khan), Nerolac (with Shah Rukh Khan), Vita Marie, Saffola oil, and Pears soap.
Huma’s journey to Bollywood was marked by struggle and perseverance. In an interview, she revealed how she lived as a paying guest in Juhu with four other girls in a cramped space, saving money by eating from dabbas and often walking instead of taking rickshaws. Although her father could have afforded to provide her with more comfortable living arrangements, she chose to make it on her own terms.
Her breakthrough came during the shoot for a Samsung mobile commercial with Aamir Khan, directed by Anurag Kashyap. Impressed by her acting ability, Kashyap signed her for a three-film deal with his company.
Although she was initially scheduled to make her film debut with the Tamil film “Billa II,” she eventually made her entry into Bollywood with Kashyap’s critically acclaimed two-part crime drama “Gangs of Wasseypur” (2012). Her portrayal of Mohsina, the supportive wife of a criminal played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, earned her widespread praise and nominations for Best Female Debut and Best Supporting Actress at several award ceremonies, including the Filmfare Awards.
That same year, Huma completed her three-film contract with Anurag Kashyap Films by starring in “Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana,” a romantic comedy. Her natural and refreshing acting style continued to impress critics and audiences alike.
Her career trajectory rose steadily as she took on diverse roles, showcasing her versatility as an actress. In 2013, she portrayed a witch in the supernatural thriller “Ek Thi Daayan” alongside Emraan Hashmi, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Kalki Koechlin.
Huma’s career reached new heights with her performance in Abhishek Chaubey’s black comedy “Dedh Ishqiya” (2014), where she starred alongside Madhuri Dixit, Arshad Warsi, and Naseeruddin Shah. Critics praised her portrayal of the promiscuous companion of a con woman, with Raja Sen commenting that she “uses her fiercely intelligent eyes to great effect.” The film was a commercial success, further cementing her position in the industry.
In 2015, Huma appeared as a prostitute in Sriram Raghavan’s crime thriller “Badlapur,” alongside Varun Dhawan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Her performance was once again well-received by critics, earning her a nomination for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress award. The same year, she made her debut in Marathi cinema with Umesh Kulkarni’s film “Highway.”
Expanding her repertoire, Huma ventured into international cinema with her role in the British-Indian historical drama “Viceroy’s House” (2017), directed by Gurinder Chadha. She also made her Tamil debut in “Kaala” (2018) opposite superstar Rajinikanth. Her willingness to take on roles across different film industries demonstrates her adaptability and commitment to her craft.
In recent years, Huma has made significant strides in the digital space. She starred in the Netflix dystopian series “Leila” (2019), which garnered critical acclaim. Her portrayal of Rani Bharti in the political drama series “Maharani” (2021-2024) earned her the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. She further expanded her international presence with a role in Zack Snyder’s “Army of the Dead” (2021), marking her Hollywood debut.
Beyond acting, Huma has been a vocal advocate for body positivity in an industry often criticized for its unrealistic beauty standards. In 2014, she participated in a photo shoot for the ‘Be Unstoppable’ campaign against body shaming, challenging conventional norms and inspiring many. She has also made her mark as an author, launching her debut novel, “Zeba: An Accidental Superhero,” at the Bangalore Literature Festival in December 2023.
Awards and Accolades:
- Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for “Maharani” (2021)
- Nominations for three Filmfare Awards including Best Supporting Actress for “Gangs of Wasseypur” and “Badlapur”
- Cinema Young Achiever Award (2018)
- Multiple nominations for Best Female Debut and Best Supporting Actress at various award ceremonies
Interesting Facts:
- A restaurant named Vatika in Varanasi has a dish named after her, created from her custom orders during the shooting of “Gangs of Wasseypur”
- She was ranked third on Rediff.com’s annual list of “Bollywood’s Top Ten Debutants” in 2012
- Ayushmann Khurrana lovingly calls her “Chumma Qureshi”
- She is an avid animal lover and has both a dog and a cat as pets
- She was asked to change her name by a filmmaker as it resembled that of a Pakistani actress
Social Media: Instagram: @iamhumaq
