Huma Qureshi is an actress who fearlessly conquers both the reel and real worlds of the entertainment industry. With her bold and intellectually compelling on-screen personas, the 36-year-old starlet has solidified her position as a force to be reckoned with in the world of cinema.
In a recent interview, the actress delved candidly into various topics, including the hot-button issue of pay parity in the film industry. Huma was asked if working on her new project, ‘Maharani 3,’ instilled confidence in her to speak up about the pay gap in the industry.
Without hesitation, the actress replied: “It does. I do talk about pay parity.” Asserting her stance, she emphasised: “I would like to get paid as much as my male counterparts. But I don’t.”
On the question of whether this scenario will evolve, she pondered: “I don’t know. I hope it happens sooner. I know all of us are talking about it but it’s not happening right now. Forget about the theatrical. What about streamer service? What is the reason not to pay the same amount on the OTT platform?”
Unveiling her efforts to advocate for fair compensation, the Gangs of Wasseypur star disclosed she has approached producers to discuss the issue but there has been no breakthrough. Describing the prevailing biases as “unspoken”, Huma Qureshi continued: “Of course, nobody will say that they are not paying you because you are a woman, nobody is like that but it just doesn’t happen.
“For example, if I do an action film and a male hero of the same stature, the same body of work does the same action film, he will get a bigger budget just because he’s a guy. This is the bias we have to fight against and live with and keep talking about it.
“One day it will change and hopefully, we all follow suit.” Huma’s words resonate now more than ever given the protests going on in Hollywood about salary and equality.
Currently, Huma Qureshi dazzles audiences in the ZEE5 film Tarla, where she embodies the renowned food writer and chef, Tarla Dalal.
