'The process of discovering myself has no full stop...': Huma Qureshi on chasing roles that mirror her truth

Actor Huma Qureshi was in Kolkata to attend a special event, organised by CII at a five-star hotel. From her approach to selecting roles to her journey in the industry and the emotions she still feels before facing the camera, the actor spoke candidly about her craft and evolution. Debleena Ghosh listens in.

'I choose roles that resonate with my voice’

Known for her diverse filmography, the actor was asked whether she consciously selects unconventional roles.

“First of all, I must say that I always feel happy whenever I come to this beautiful city,” she said. “Now, coming to your question, no, I did not consciously choose roles. There was no activism behind it.”

She added, “As a woman, you constantly have to prove yourself. You are expected to be funny, beautiful, or intelligent. There’s very little room to just be ‘ordinary’. I didn’t want to fit into any of those boxes. I chose roles that resonate with my voice.”

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Reflecting on her early days, she said, “I began with Gangs of Wasseypur, thinking I had to prove myself. Later, I realised I cannot survive by pretending to be someone I am not.”

‘Maharani’ changed my life, ‘Delhi Crime’ was the most disturbing

Among her notable performances, Huma highlighted Maharani as a turning point.

“‘Maharani’ has changed my life to a large extent. It’s not just binge-worthy, it raises important questions about the position of women in society,” she said, referring to her role as Rani Bharati, a woman navigating a patriarchal political system.

However, her experience in Delhi Crime was starkly different. “That was the most disturbing role I’ve played. It’s a very dark character. But as an actor, you have to portray everything, good, bad, and ugly.”

At a time when audiences are increasingly drawn to English-language content, Maharani stood out for its rooted dialect.

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“Language doesn’t matter as long as the audience can connect,” Huma said. “India is vast, with multiple dialects, yet there is a shared emotional thread. Creating that connection is challenging.”

She added, “You cannot please everyone. You have to stay true to your beliefs, otherwise, you won’t be able to create anything meaningful.”

‘Acting is my only tool’

Speaking about her preparation process, Huma shared how she draws from personal memories and observation.

“I played Tarla Dalal and had to transform into a Gujarati character. I remembered how my mother used her recipe books that helped me build the role,” she said.

“Again, in Delhi Crime, I played a negative character from Haryana. We all have limitations this face, this body is what I have. So acting becomes my only tool.”

When asked which roles she personally enjoys the most, Huma responded with honesty.

“That sounds like taking off a mask, I don’t even know who I truly am,” she said.

‘I have never been afraid of playing older characters’

Addressing whether she ever hesitated to play characters older than her age, Huma was clear.

“Not at all. I have never been afraid of playing older roles. People already know how I look, how I speak, so I’m not worried about perceptions,” she said.

Despite years in the industry, the actor admitted that the nerves never go away.

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“Even today, I feel nervous before stepping onto a set. At that moment, I have to become someone else. Until the audience watches the film, I don’t know if I’ve succeeded or failed,” she said.

“I’ve played all kinds of roles, good, bad, complex, very sexual, non-sexual, and older characters. I don’t like over-explaining my preparation. As actors, we are blessed to explore so much.”

‘The process of discovering myself has no full stop’

Beyond acting, Huma emphasised her constant curiosity.

“I like to explore different things beyond acting. I am still discovering myself every day. The process of discovering myself has no full stop, only ellipses…” she concluded.