Be it a web series or a Hollywood project, Huma Qureshi approaches her work with the same commitment.

Gurnaaz Kaur

Being able to do some meaningful shows can be so satisfying. First Leela and now Maharani, Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi feels lucky that she has had the chance to pick up shows that have exceptional writing and really strong female characters.

Working for a web series otherwise means a huge commitment and three times more the work. “You can’t even compare it with a film. They are two different subjects. As an actor, a series is a lot more hard work. It’s like doing three films at the same time with the same character, purely in terms of the number of hours you are putting in. To do nine episodes of 45 minutes each would mean a lot of effort to put out some good content.”

And as far as the response is concerned, the difference is significant too. “A film comes on a Friday and everything is based on the box-office numbers; opening day, weekend collections, reviews… All those factors play up. A series on the other hand is a slow burn. It could be released on a particular date, but it will evolve gradually. People will watch it in their own time; word of mouth plays a huge role here.”

Foreign shores

Now that she also has a Hollywood film, Army of the Dead, in her kitty, there’s much to be happy about. “It was exciting to work with Zack Snyder, to be a part of his big universe. The film was released in theatres in the US, which makes it even more special. It’s available on Netflix and is being appreciated.” Essentially, the work is the same. As an actor, it’s all about what you deliver; from ‘action’ to ‘cut’ it remains the same, but the paraphernalia around makes a world of difference. “In the US, when you sign a project, you are supposed to block the dates for the whole duration of the film, as opposed to India, where as actors we are used to juggling multiple projects at the same time. It takes a while getting used to it.”

Fictional story

Coming back to Maharani, streaming on Sony Liv, when you watch its trailer, you might feel it’s based on former chief minister Rabri Devi’s life. The political drama has Huma Qureshi in the titular role, who is made the CM of the state much against her will. A simple, uneducated woman, she would rather milk cows all day or make cow dung cakes than lord over a male-dominated system.

But apart from the fact that it’s set in Bihar and has a reluctant wife taking charge of the CMs office, quite how after RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav faced charges of corruption, Rabri Devi, his wife, was handed over the responsibility, Huma says there is nothing more to compare. She says, “It’s a fictional story and has got nothing to do with reality.”

Maharani was initially quite a challenge for Huma. With the first two weeks dedicated to script-reading sessions, there was a workshop wherein she got into the skin of the character, perfected her look, accent and even the walk. “We’ve focused on the small details. Everything had to be worked upon. To play a character that comes from rural Bihar was quite challenging; I’ve never stayed there but, thankfully, God has given me the ability to pick up accents really fast, so I was able to pull it off.”

Solid character

Becoming the character may have taken its own time, but playing Rani Bharati has been an interesting experience. “While Rani has no idea about anything and how her husband decides to throw her into the political arena because he is unwell, you get to see how she manages. She uses a lot of her native wisdom to come out on the top of the game. Rani maybe unlettered but she is not dumb. She is a smart woman who has the will to fight and understand the nuances of male-dominated profession, and navigates her way with the knowledge that she has.”

Directed by Karan Sharma, the show has been created by Subhash Kapoor with whom Huma did Jolly LLB (2). It also stars Sohum Shah, Amit Sial and Kani Kusruti.

She may have her plate full, but Huma is equally dedicated to bringing a change in the hard-hitting Covid-19 situation. “I am working with a charity called Save The Children. We are building a 100-bed hospital facility in Delhi. We also have an ICU, children ward, etc. It takes up a huge part of my day because it is something I feel is most needed on the ground right now.”