Tarla | Huma Qureshi on pursuing acting: My father was upset, and my mother thought I lost the plot

Huma Qureshi plays the title role in the latest release, Tarla. As her father is the owner of the Delhi-based restaurant Saleem's, she shares how she convinced her parents to join the film industry.

Huma Qureshi

Coming from a conservative Muslim family in South Delhi, it was not an easy ride for Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi to join the film industry. But in the last 11 years, she not only found her space in the film industry but also became an inspiration for many because of the way she bent many norms, especially with the body image of Bollywood heroines.

In a recent interview given to veteran journalist Barkha Dutt for the Mojo Story, she was asked how she convinced her parents to let her become an actor by relocating to Mumbai and how she dealt with her parents initial response to that, which was not very positive.

On that note, Huma shared, "I think it was just meant to be this way. I was one of those classically confused kids who just wanted to do something. Since I come from a conservative family, we were always pushed to study and excel on that front. My parents always thought that I would do something academically inclined and become an IPS or a doctor. In fact, my mother really wanted me to become a doctor, and I did study for that till the 11th standard, and I realised that this is not for me."

She shared how one day she went to her teacher and expressed her dissatisfaction with studying math, science, and medical training, which she also considered one of her acts of rebellion as a teenager.

However, the Gangs of Wasseypur actress shared that one of the toughest parts of her journey started after she developed an interest in acting and theatre and convinced her parents to allow her to pursue acting.

"My father was upset, and my mother thought I lost the plot. They were not encouraging the idea and were rather suggesting I go abroad and study. They wanted me to get an MBA or join the family business because it's a successful one. I thought I would do that," said the actress, who recently also conducted a gig for the promotion of her film Tarla.

As her father feels very happy about Saleem's becoming a pop culture reference, Huma quipped, "I told my father that I am your unpaid PR for Saleem's! In my film, Monica! O My Darling, we had a pop-culture reference to our restaurant. I produced a film called XXL in which we shot a scene where Sonakshi (Sinha) is eating a roll at Saleem's. So yes, there are scenes and references to our restaurant in films as well."

The film Tarla, also starring Sharib Hashmi, is the story of the celebrated Indian chef and cookbook author Tarla Dalal. The film is streaming on ZEE5.

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