Huma Qureshi is going through a ‘jolly’ good time. The actor, who debuted with Anurag Kashyap’s two-part crime drama Gangs Of Wasseypur wowed viewers with her raw portrayal. Later, she added to her credentials with her nuanced acts in Ek Thi Dayan, Dedh Ishqiya and Badlapur. But the beautiful girl from an affluent family of restaurateurs had not left Delhi with limited dreams. Her dreams were as larger-than-life as the screen she wanted to own. As Akshay Kumar’s spunky wife in Jolly LLB 2, she broke new ground and entered the ‘superhit’ league. Her foray into the horror premise with brother Saqib Saleem in Dobaara-See Your Evil has already created a buzz. Up next is Gurinder Chadha’s Indo-Brit historical, Viceroy’s House. Most importantly, she will be romanced by superstar Rajiniknath in his upcoming Tamil film. Yes, Huma Qureshi has arrived. Albeit without cutting any corners or her generous curves… ‘Be yourself’ is what she describes as her success mantra. Truly, her individuality stands apart in a world of clones and cosmetic wonders…
You’ve been always supportive for each other… We came from Delhi. Mumbai’s not an easy city to survive in. And the film industry is a competitive place. So we always had each other to hold on to. Saqib is my support system, my best friend. He’s someone I can talk to about everything. Being older, I’m more protective about him. But actually both of us are protective about each other. I show it far more. While he doesn’t. Would you say Jolly LLB 2 was your breakthrough movie? It’s a special film because I got to work with Akshay Kumar. He’s a fantastic co-star, a lovely human being and of course a superstar. But at the same time it was a beautiful script. Subhashji (Kapoor, director) wrote a strong female character. She has fire, she’s brave. Though she’s a homemaker, he gave it a spin. She isn’t just an accessory or a glam doll. People always appreciated me as an actor! But Jolly put the stamp of ‘superhit’ next to my name. Would you agree that along with critical acclaim, commercial success is equally important? Yes, commercial success is necessary because you can then reach out to a maximum number of people. It means more people have watched your film. Is it difficult for an outsider to make it here? Yes, it’s difficult. But I’d rather focus on positive things because despite it all the industry has been welcoming. I got a chance to work with good actors and filmmakers, be it in Gangs Of Wasseypur , Badlapur or Jolly LLB. I received critical acclaim. And now after Jolly LLB, I’m getting offers that I can pick and choose from. So I can’t complain. Yet there are days when you’re like ‘Oh my God! Nothing is happening’. But God has been kind to me. How much has the industry changed you? I learnt to be patient. I choose my roles carefully because I want to make a mark. I don’t want to be replaceable. I don’t want to be taken because some other actress doesn’t have the dates. I want directors to think of me when they have a particular role in mind. I didn’t have the luxury of being launched. Yet, I don’t regret anything. I don’t want to be in the rat race, I don’t want to be number one or number two. How difficult is it for a girl to survive in a male-dominating industry? The whole world is male-dominated – the corporate world, the banking sector…everywhere. For girls it’s difficult in any profession. But today girls are smart, well-educated with a strong value system. They can stand up for themselves, no matter what the profession. If you feel you’re being disrespected, voice it. If you feel you’re not being paid enough, demand it. If you feel there’s something that you don’t want to do, say no. How did you tackle the ‘size zero’ expectations? I’ve never tried to adhere to any standard of slimness. I had done a campaign ‘My body, my rules’ for Femina. Recently, I did a campaign for jeans, which says ‘I shape my world’. I will not be bullied and why do you have to fit in when you can stand out? This idea of ‘size zero’ is silly. It’s not sustainable. The results are unhealthy - anorexia, bulimia…Recently, I underwent a 28-day detox program. I shared what I ate every day. You don’t have to starve. You can still lose weight and look great. The mindset, that there’s something wrong with me and till I don’t fix it I won’t be happy, has to change. This weight loss is not because I want to fit in. It’s only because I am taking better care of myself. 
Does media scrutiny about your personal life bother you? Earlier, when I was new it used to bother me but now I don’t care about it. You get used to it. I’ve figured out that social media is a good platform to express yourself. But if somebody continues writing incorrect things, I can’t do anything about it. What do you have to say about rumours linking you with Sohail Khan? I don’t want to comment on it. A secret you discovered... I’ve learnt that laughter is the key. You just laugh and everything becomes better. More on: Huma Qureshi, Saqib Saleem SHOW COMMENTS
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