After sweeping critical recognition for her debut in the 2012 crime drama, Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1 and Part 2, Bollywood beauty Huma Qureshi, was recently in the city to promote her fourth Hindi movie, Ek Thi Daayan. Speaking about her Bangalore connection, she said, “I have a very close association with Bangalore because of my aunty, who brought me up. She is mother’s friend and stays in Koramangala. After my mother, she is someone I look up to and want to take care of. In fact I used to visit Bangalore often during my student days and live with her. I attribute all my South connection and Karnataka taste buds to her.”
Talking about Ek Thi Daayan, Huma stated that she is still to assess her career growth. “I am just taking each film as it comes,” she said.
Considering that she has been part of movies like Gangs of Wasseypur and Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, she feels that Ek Thi Daayan is another movie which has her in a completely different role in terms of character. “It gives a great opportunity as an actress to really diversify and show my versatility in performance,” said Huma.
While according to her, she thoroughly enjoyed playing desi characters in her previous three films, Ek Thi Daayan has her portraying a cosmopolitan girl who is in love with a magician played by Emraan Hashmi. “Mohsina in Gangs of Wasseypur not only changed my career but my whole life. I am glad to have had the opportunity to work with some good filmmakers which will be on any actor’s wishlist. But I can’t be Mohsina all the time,” said Huma, who is waiting to see the reaction of her fans with the character as Tamara in her film.
“People have never seen me in Western avatar on screen and mostly liked me in salwars and speaking the colloquial language. It is interesting to see how people respond to my new image,” she said.
Apart from Huma, Ek Thi Daayan also has Konkana Sen Sharma and Kalki Koechlin. Ruling out any catfights, for Huma, the relation with the other two actresses was a rich learning experience. She states, “Why is it that nobody talks about fights when three heroes work together? I think it is unfair.
I know Kalki before and she is a wonderful actor and a friend. I met Koko through this film. I admire her work and I feel she is one of the finest actresses we have in our country. All three of us are too secure to really worry about small things. As actors, we know what we are getting into,” she said.
Being part of theatre, Huma states that it has helped her become a better actress. “Theatre helps us to set up building blocks, giving confidence that you can act and emote. It gives the ability to be with a team which comes handy when you are working in films,” she said.
Huma is now looking at more opportunities to work in the southern industry.