Huma Qureshi

Huma Saleem Qureshi (pronounced born 28 July 1986) is an Indian film actress and model, who has received three Filmfare Award nominations.
Qureshi obtained a bachelor's degree in History Honours from the University of Delhi, She worked as a theatre actor and model. After working in several theatrical productions, she moved to Mumbai and signed a two-year contract with Hindustan Unilever to appear in television commercials. During the shoot for a Samsung mobile commercial, Anurag Kashyap noticed her acting ability and signed her for a three-film deal with his company.
Qureshi made her film debut with a supporting role in the two-part crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). Her performance in the film earned her several nominations, including the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut and the Best Supporting Actress. That same year, she played the lead female role in the romance Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, and followed it with a role in Ek Thi Daayan. She portrayed protagonists in the anthological Shorts (2013), the black comedy Dedh Ishqiya (2014), the revenge drama Badlapur (2015), and the Marathi road drama Highway (2015), and featured briefly in the collaborative film X: Past Is Present (2015).

Early life and modelling career

Qureshi was born on 28 July 1986 into a Muslim family in New Delhi, India.Her father, Saleem Qureshi, is a restaurateur who runs a chain of restaurants (Saleem's); her mother, Ameena Qureshi (a Kashmiri), is a housewife. She has three brothers that includes actor Saqib Saleem.The family relocated to Kalkaji, South Delhi, when Qureshi was a child. She completed her bachelor's in History Honours from the Gargi College—University of Delhi. Later, she joined Act 1 theatre group and performed in few theatre productions. Qureshi has worked with several NGOs and assisted a documentary filmmaker.
In 2008, she moved to Mumbai to audition for film roles, auditioning for a film Junction which was never made: "I never thought of coming to Mumbai or being an actress. But when my friend called me for an audition for a movie called Junction, it set me thinking. Sadly, the film never got made".Qureshi signed a two-year contract with Hindustan Unilever to appear in their television commercials. She promoted a range of products, including Samsung Mobile (with Aamir Khan), Nerolac (with Shah Rukh Khan), Vita Marie, Saffola Oil, Mederma Cream and Pears Soap.During a shoot for a Samsung Mobile commercial, director Anurag Kashyap was impressed with her acting ability and promised to use her in a film. Qureshi recalled, "I didn't believe him then. You hear lots of such stories in this industry so I wasn't waiting with bated breath". Kashyap kept his promise, though, signing her for a three-film deal with his company Anurag Kashyap Films.

Acting career

Debut and breakthrough

Qureshi was initially scheduled to make her film debut with the Billa II, a Tamil gangster-thriller, directed and produced by Chakri Toleti, after surviving an audition out of 700 candidates. Although cast as the female lead, when the film was delayed, Qureshi left the project to honour other work commitments. When asked about if she have any regressions, she said: "I have no regrets. I wish it had worked out but it didn't. I am not someone who sits and laments over things. I was approached for several other south films too but the roles weren't what I was looking for".
Qureshi made her feature film debut with a supporting role in the Anurag Kashyap's critically acclaimed two-part crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1 (2012), where Qureshi was cast as the supportive wife of a criminal (played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui). She described her character as a small-town airhead who thinks she is the prettiest girl in the village: "Mohsina tries to copy everything she sees on the big screen in her own little ways. She is heavily influenced by Bollywood".The film premiered at the 65th Cannes Film Festival, and both the film and Qureshi received positive reviews from criticsGovind Nihalani noted her screen presence, comparing the actress to Smita Patil: "an earthiness, sincerity, intensity and warmth of personality, qualities that distinguished Smita, apart from the fact that she was a very fine and instinctive actress. Huma is a good enough actress on her own, someone who can stand apart from the crowd and hold her own". Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama noted, "Huma Qureshi, who's introduced much later in the film...is wonderful".The Express Tribuneadded, "When it comes to looks, [Huma] is different from the typical Bollywood actors". In 2012 Qureshi was ranked third, the highest female position, on Rediff.com's annual list of "Bollywood's Top Ten Debutants" (male and female).Following the success of the first part, she reprised her role of Mohsina in the second instalment of the Gangs of Wasseypur series, Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2. The film premiered in the Cannes Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival with its prequel. It opened to wide critical acclaim, and her portrayal again received positive reviews. Madhureeta Mukherjee of The Times of India said "Huma Qureshi, with her gaudy clothes, designer sun-glasses and unusual attractiveness is the hottest cheez in Wasseypur. She beautifully lends support as a powerful man's 'prouder' better-half, even in his worst crimes",and Taran Adarsh found her "simply fantastic". Both films earned her Best Female Debut and Best Supporting Actress nominations at several award ceremonies (including the Filmfare Award). Qureshi described Gangs of Wasseypur as a "life-changing film".
That same year, Qureshi completed her three-film contract with Anurag Kashyap Films by starring in Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, a romantic comedy, which describes a quest for an ancient family dish chicken Khurana. Directed by Sameer Sharma, she played the role of a feisty Punjabi girl, Harman (star Kunal Kapoor's love interest). The film was a financial success, and Rediff.com noted that "Huma Qureshi looks right for the role and she delivers a wonderful performance".Aniruddha Guha of Daily News and Analysis said, "[Qureshi], on the other hand, is charming as the fiery Punjaban, Harman. Her refreshingly natural acting style impresses again in a role that has shades of her character in the Gangs of Wasseypur". However, Anupama Chopra found her performance to be a "little bland".

Upcoming projects

As of January 2016, Qureshi has various projects at different stage of productions. She has finished filming for Zahhak, a remake of the Hollywood film Oculus, which will be directed by Prawaal Raman, and she will play the leading role along with her brother Saqib Saleem.
She will make her Malayalam debut with Uday Ananthan's White opposite Mammootty,and English debut with Gurinder Chadha's Viceroy's House, which will be based on Lord Mountbatten's few last days of stay in India before the country got its independence, and she will portray the role of Fatima Jinnah., and she will portray the role of Aalia.