Actress Huma Qureshi needs no introduction. Even having no godfather in the Bollywood industry, she has been continuously in the limelight ever since her debut in Gangs of Wasseypur (GOW). From playing the role of a small-town girl in mafia drama GOW to portraying the character of a confidante of Begum Para, played by Madhuri Dixit, in black comedy Dedh Ishqiya and playing a role of sex worker coming out of her comfort zone like the recently-released Badlapur, the 28-year-old actress has proved her mettle in every piece of her work. The actress, whose family runs a successful restaurant business in Delhi, was in town to attend a function. She spoke to Ashadeep Mohanty from The Pioneer about her journey from theatre to the Bollywood mainstream, need to support theatre, future projects and many more.
Before entering into the Bollywood, you performed in several theatre shows. How was your journey from theatre to BollywoodIJ
Pretty fast and pretty interesting actually! I worked in various English theatre groups in Delhi. I was working in a theatre group called Act 1 under the guidance of director NK Sharma, who is my acting teacher and an important person in my life. He encouraged me to become an actor. I’m very grateful to him.
And yeah.. when I was in theatre in Delhi, that’s the time I realised that I should move to Mumbai and do films because I wanted to reach out to bigger and bigger audience. After doing several ads, I got my debut project from director Anurag Kashyap.
You really had interest in theatre, or you just used it as a platform to get into the BollywoodIJ
No, I love theatre, and even if I used it as a platform, I don’t think there is any harm in it because theatre does prepare you as an actor and gives extra confidence to become a better actor. And I don’t think there is any better training than in theatre for an actor. But unfortunately in India, we don’t have many places where you can go and study film acting, though a few courses are there in the NIFT. Abroad, there are various integral courses where people can learn acting for theatre, stage and screen. Bur personally, If I’m a good actor, it’s just because of training during my theatre days.
As an actor, what difference do you feel between the two mediumsIJ
Theatre is the most satisfying medium. like when I’m acting in theatre, I get instant reaction, instant gratification. The audience is max to max 300-350 only. But in film, fortunately or unfortunately, it is a delayed response to what you do. But you can reach out to huge numbers of audience.
If you are approached, would you like to go back and work in theatre againIJ
I don’t know. It’s a very difficult question. I have become greedy now. like I said whatever work I do, I want to reach out to more and more people.
Don’t you think over-popularisation of commercial movies has somehow downsized the audience count of theatreIJ
I don’t think there is any fight. There is a very dedicated audience that watches theatre and connoisseurs and fans, who appreciate fine arts, poetry and music. See if I want to watch a play irrespective of any ‘Khan’ movies playing in a multiplex, I’ll go and watch it. So, it doesn’t stop anyone to watch theatre.
Still, what you think should be done to give a boost to theatre in the countryIJ
What we need to do is to support theatre in our country. Whether the Government and or other bodies come forward, we need to start giving them subsidies. like it happens in the UK and the US, where the Government gives good amount of subsides to put up a play. Because the amount of time, energy and effort that goes in doing a theatre production is far more. So, there is no way the production houses will make money unless and until there is a huge tax subsidy on ticket prices. As for actors also, like I would never leave theatre if it pays well as a film does. But it doesn’t in our country.
You have been in the limelight ever since your debut in GOW, which is considered as a major breakthrough in your career. Do you agree with thisIJ
Yeah, it turned out to be. I never expected that it would be a breakthrough film for me. I thought it would be a film that would come and go. But I’m glad that it did succeed. It was a breakthrough not just for me but for all the actors in it, be it Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Richa Chadda and all the minor actors. And it was a breakthrough at many levels; nationally and internationally.
You got your debut project at a time when the ‘Size Zero’ trend was ruling the Bollywood. Do you still think ‘Size Zero’ is a must in Bollywood or it’s the talent what actually mattersIJ
I have killed it. Size-Zero is dead. I think your headline should be ‘Huma Qureshi kills Size Zero’ (laughs).
It is in news that you are working with your actor brother Saqib Saleem for the first time in a Hollywood adaptation of Oculus. Now, this must have been something different for both of you.
Actually, the shooting hasn’t started yet. It will start in July in london. The film is about a brother-sister story. It will be of great fun. He is my best friend and a great support system, and we do give honest feedbacks to each other on our works.