पैसे बचाने पैदल चलती थीं हुमा कुरैशी: चार लड़कियों संग पीजी में रहीं; पहली फिल्म के मिले 65 हजार, हिट के बाद भी करना पड़ा स्ट्रगल

Huma Qureshi had come to Mumbai only to work in a film.

Delhi-based Huma Qureshi spent months convincing her family to take up acting as a career. When she reached Mumbai, there was neither Godfather nor film launch. Huma, who auditioned while living in a small PG with four girls, started with advertisements. Did advertisements with stars like Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan.

Then a meeting on the set of a mobile ad changed his life. Anurag Kashyap gave him a chance in Gangs of Wasseypur. The film became a hit, but Huma’s struggle did not end. Amidst body shaming, rejection, trolling and linkup rumours, she identified herself with different characters.

Special things related to the life and career of Huma Qureshi in today’s success story.

She was fast in studies, her passion for acting later became a career.

Huma Qureshi was born on 28 July 1986 in Delhi. His father Salim Qureshi is associated with the restaurant business. Huma did History Honors from Gargi College, Delhi. During her college days, she remained active in drama, debate and theater along with studies. She also became the President of the Drama Society.

NK Sharma became his mentor during his time in theatre. In an interview given to The Indian Express, Huma had told that NK Sharma was the first to recognize her potential to become an actor. He worked in plays like ‘The American Pilot’. According to Huma, she felt her real passion for acting only during theatre.

The journey from studying to become a doctor to Mumbai

Huma’s family believed that she was good at studies and would pursue an academic career. Huma had told that her father was initially not sure about the decision of acting. It took him about six to eight months to convince his parents.

Before coming to Mumbai, he got an audition for a film. He was selected in the film, but the project was never made. From this experience Huma understood that she had to work in films. After this he decided to go to Mumbai.

Lived in a small PG with four girls in Mumbai

After reaching Mumbai, Huma did not live a luxurious life. She lived in a small PG with four other girls in Juhu. Each girl had her own bed and a cabinet. There were daily fights even over using the bathroom.

In an interview given to Filmfare, Huma had told that she used to leave with a bag for auditions. It contained a salwar-kameez, white shirt, black dress and tiffin. Many times he was rejected without even interacting properly. In the initial phase, she used to travel between Dadar and Juhu by taxi and auto rickshaw. To save money, she often walked on foot.

Got the first advertisement and got only 5 thousand rupees

It was taking time to fulfill the film dream, so Huma started with advertisements. His first advertisement was for a mobile company. In this, she became a journalist interviewing Abhishek Bachchan. For this he got only 5 thousand rupees.

After this Huma did advertisements with many big stars including Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan. This advertisement was going to open the way for his film career.

Meeting Anurag Kashyap in Aamir Khan’s ad

Huma worked with Aamir Khan in a mobile advertisement. Its shooting lasted for four days in Panchgani. The director of that advertisement was Anurag Kashyap. Huma had narrated a funny story of this meeting. She told that by then she had done about ten advertisements and had started considering herself a ‘veteran’ in this matter.

She wore a lot of makeup on the set. Anurag asked, ‘What is this?’ So Huma without hesitation said that this is her first ad, although she has done ten ads. The very next day Anurag told him that he would cast him in his film. Huma couldn’t believe it, but Anurag kept his promise.

Gangs of Wasseypur found, but only 65 thousand rupees were found

In 2012, Huma made her Bollywood debut with Gangs of Wasseypur. In the film, she played the role of Mohsina, the wife of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s character. At the time of shooting, he had no idea that his role was going to be so important. In an interview, Huma had told that she had received only 65 thousand rupees for the film. He said that the shooting was not like a big star film – no five star hotel, no frills of vanity van. The team went to Varanasi, shot for months and came back. When the film was released, Huma saw that her face was on the hoardings.

The film was a hit, but after this came the real struggle

Gangs of Wasseypur gave recognition to Huma. But after success, she did not continuously become the heroine of films with big stars. In Barkha Dutt’s interview, Huma had said that after the first few films, she started feeling insecure about herself. They could not understand in which direction to move forward.

‘Billa 2’ was released earlier, but the film journey got stuck

Before Gangs of Wasseypur, Huma got a chance to work with Ajith Kumar in the Tamil film Billa 2. He got this role after auditioning about 700 candidates. But the film got delayed and Huma left the project due to other commitments.

‘Body shaming’ shook even self-confidence

One of the toughest battles of Huma’s career was the criticism regarding her weight and looks. Huma told that it was written in a review that she is a good actress, but she is five kilos overweight to become a mainstream actress. Later, he increased his weight by about 20 kg for the film ‘Double XL’. Huma said that this film was like therapy for her.

On the show Double Date in 2026, he also mentioned the trolling of his early career. He told that continuous negative comments had an impact on his self-confidence. She had become quite reserved for some time.

Had to face rumors of linkup with Anurag Kashyap

After Gangs of Wasseypur, rumors started about the friendship between Huma and Anurag Kashyap. There were continuous reports in the media about their relationship. Huma dismissed these reports in an interview with India Today in 2013, saying that she would not let the rumors affect her work and relationships with people who trusted her. A year later, Anurag Kashyap also said that Huma was being targeted in these rumors and it was affecting her image.

Another rumor – Engagement with the director of ‘Dedh Ishqiya’

In 2014, there was a rumor on social media about Huma that she was engaged to ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ director Abhishek Chaubey. Huma rejected this and said that such rumors weaken the hard work of an outsider.

From ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ to ‘Badlapur’, she kept choosing different roles.

Huma did not limit herself to the traditional glamorous heroine image. He played different characters in films like ‘Dedh Ishqiya’, ‘Badlapur, Jolly LLB 2 and Monica, O My Darling. This became his career strategy – choosing a new character instead of repeating himself in every film. Hum says that for her every film is like starting again. She does not like to repeat the same roles.

OTT gave a new turn to career

Along with films, Huma turned to OTT. In 2019, her character in the web series Laila was in the news, but 2021’s ‘Maharani’ gave a new turn to her career. The character of Rani Bharti became one of Huma’s most popular characters till date. Huma played the gradual strengthening of an ordinary woman in power politics very effectively.

This was the period when she started being seen as an artiste, rather than just a film actress, who could play strong characters in different mediums as well.

Rani Bharti of ‘Maharani’ became a life-changing character

Huma described Rani Bharti as the role in her career which changed her life. In this character, she played a woman who gradually strengthens herself amid the struggles of politics, power and personal life. After this, he also made his presence felt on OTT and international screens with projects like ‘Mithya’ and ‘Army of the Dead’.

She said on trolling – it is important to keep working

Huma spoke openly about trolling in a recent interview. She said that now she does not let the negativity of social media dominate her. While talking to Lucknow Times, she responded to trolling about her looks and her confidence.

Now producer along with actor

Huma is no longer limited to just acting. In Baby Do Die Do, he took up the responsibility of production along with acting. The film was released on 3 July 2026. The girl who once considered getting a film as her biggest achievement, has now taken steps towards creating stories of her choice.

‘Toxic’ shows a new phase of career

Huma’s recent releases also include ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups’. Yash starrer this film was released in theaters on 26 August 2026. The film is directed by Geetu Mohandas. Along with Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasant and Huma Qureshi are also in important roles.

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