Biography
Huma Qureshi (born 28 July 1986)] is an Indian actress and model. She has worked in theatre productions in Delhi and went on to act in television advertisements. She made her feature film debut in Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur (2012).
Huma Qureshi was born on 28 July 1986 in Delhi. Her father is a restaurateur, and runs a chain of some 10 restaurants called Saleem’s, all around Delhi. Her brother, Saqib Saleem is also a film actor, having appeared in Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge.
Huma Qureshi has a background of professional theatre from Delhi, and having worked with theatre directors like Aamir Raza Husain, Sohaila Kapur, Rahul Pulkeshi and NK Sharma of Act One Group. She later moved to Mumbai and started to appear in television advertisements. She has shot for almost 15 adverts for brands like Vita Marie, Saffola Oil, Mederma Cream, Samsung Guru, Pears Soap and Nerolac.
Qureshi’s work in television gained her considerable notice, particularly the advertisements that featured her alongside popular actors Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan. While shooting for the advert with latter, she recalls, noted Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap had told her that she would be acting in his next directorial. Kashyap, keeping his promise, signed her on for a supporting role in his crime thriller Gangs of Wasseypur. Part of an ensemble cast, Qureshi essayed the role of Mohsina, a small town Muslim girl from the 90′s. Gangs of Wasseypur was screened at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, which was also attended by Qureshi, where the film received a standing ovation. Qureshi was to make her debut in Tamil cinema, playing the female lead in the gangster thriller Billa II opposite Ajith Kumar, with sources reporting that she was selected after 700 girls had been auditioned; however as the film got delayed, she opted out due to her prior commitments.
In 2012, she was honored with a Special Mention by the Grand Jury at the 2012 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles for her performance as the titular character in the short film Sujata.
Even before the release of Gangs of Wasseypur, Huma had been signed on for three more films. Her next film Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, a romantic comedy, touted to be Bollywood’s first “food film”, will feature her as a “fun loving Punjabi girl”.
Qureshi is currently shooting for the psychological thriller Ek Thi Daayan opposite Emraan Hashmi, which is jointly produced by Vishal Bhardwaj and Ekta Kapoor. She has further signed to be part of Nikhil Advani’s D Day, and has performed an item number in the dubbed Hindi version of Michael Winterbottom’s drama film Trishna starring Freida Pinto.
