Solo leads not important to me: Huma Qureshi

Actress Huma Qureshi, who debuted with Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur earlier this year and has signed her fifth film already, says she is looking for good films and performance oriented roles instead of solo leads.

“It is not important that I do a solo heroine film, for me what matters is that I should do something that audience remember me for and connect with me,” Huma Qureshi told PTI.

“Even if I am there in a film for a little time, it is great as far as my role is good. What is the use if I do a big film where I am the only heroine but people don’t care?”

In Gangs of Wasseypur, Huma Qureshi shared screen space with Manoj Bajpai, Richa Chadda, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and others.

She would also star in Vishal Bhardwaj’s supernatural psychological thriller Ek Thi Daayan alongwith Emraan Hashmi, Konkona Sen Sharma and Kalki Koechlin.

“I am not related to someone in the film industry, it will take time to prove (myself). To do a film with an ensemble cast may be safer from an outsider’s point of view. I am choosing the best of what is offered to me. It is coincidental that I am doing these films,” Huma Qureshi said.

After the two-part Gangs of Wasseypur, Huma Qureshi’s next release will be Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana in November. Produced by Anurag Kashyap and also starring Kunal Kapoor, Huma Qureshi plays a Punjabi girl in the film directed by Sameer Sharma. It will release on November 2.

“I play a Pujabi girl in the film, it is not a stereotypical role. We have tried to do something different. The character is very real, I am sure the girls from Punjab will relate to it,” Huma Qureshi said.

Even before her debut Hindi film Gangs of Wasseypur hit the cinemas, the newcomer had already signed her fifth project in Bollywood, an action movie with Nikhil Advani.

“I have got offers, I have selected a few. It would be right for the producers to announce it. I have two more films with Balaji Telefilms. I have a three-film contract with them. Ekta Kapoor wants to do two more films with me.”

“There are lots of things we are discussing but I can’t talk about it. There are some good and interesting scripts that I would be signing soon. As of now I would begin shooting for Nikhil Advani’s film,” she added.

Huma Qureshi said she feels the film industry has been kind to her and she is lucky that such filmmakers are signing her. “I am humbled and grateful that such filmmakers are choosing me for their films. The industry has been kind and loving,” she said.

“I don’t feel like an alien in this city (Mumbai). It is not that I planned my journey in the industry. I just try to be true to myself and believe in me,” she said.