Kolkata, Feb 23 : Given the opportunity and budget, women could thrive in action films too, said Huma Qureshi in an exclusive interaction with UNI only a fortnight before Women’s Day. Just ahead of the release of her action-packed film ‘Valimai’, Huma revealing her excitement about doing a hardcore action film, said, “I think there’s not enough action film that women get today. Women can also do a good action. We should just be given the opportunity and the budget to make action films”.
‘Valimai’, an H. Vinoth directorial, will hit the silver screen across the country on February 24. Speaking about her preparation for the action-packed role, Huma, who is known as one of the purest artists of this time, said, “My preparation always is to listen to my director and follow the creative things. As I think I’m here because my director and producer thought that I have the toughness of the cop and I looked like somebody who had integrity.”
After the trailer launch, people are going gaga for Qureshi’s tough onscreen looks in ‘Valimai’ but she didn’t find it extremely challenging. Justifying her point, she added, “I had to practice my punches, my kick and all of that which I did. But anyway I do a lot of kickboxing so I think that came naturally to me.” Huma, who feels that ‘Valimai’ is going to be the biggest Indian action film, will be seen driving a truck in the film. Conveying her experience, she said, “In one of the sequences in the film, I had to drive a lorry. I was called and told that I had to drive a lorry. I agreed happily.
I just asked about the gear pattern of that massive truck and got ready. I was quite confident but the team was very nervous because it was a night shoot and there was other traffic. I was quite gung-ho about doing it and seeing the smile on my director and dop’s face made my day. They were really happy that I could pull it off.” Her OTT project ‘Mithya’ started streaming recently and has great reviews. Now she will be seen in an action-packed role in ‘Valimai’, a Boney Kapoor production. She will also be seen in a song cameo in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’.
Then she has a lineup ready with Maharani Season 2, Monica, O My Darling, Double XL. Being known for her portrayal of unconventional characters, while asked if ‘Valimai’ her conscious effort to refrain from being typecast, the Badlapur actor responds, “I always have done different characters and a bit of everything. Be it an action film, small indie film, OTT film, International film, Regional film and now this Pan India film. I always think of myself as an actor who goes wherever good stories are. And because of that, I don’t think I have ever been typecast. For me being versatile is very important”. Discussing her take on good content, applauding the audiences ‘Maharani’ of OTT said, “I think good content will be both on ott and theatres. I think our audiences are demanding great films in both the theatres and on ott. It’s amazing.” Asked how much the pandemic transformed her as a human being, the ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ actor asserts, “I think the pandemic has changed me and changed everyone.
I think I have become far braver with my choices. I think I’m no longer feared of making brave choices and that’s the way I want to continue.” In the lockdowns, everybody had to stay at home and that helped her she thinks. “The time I spend inward with myself and my thoughts and all of that, definitely changed me as a person”, she concluded.
With UNI Inputs
