Bollywood star Huma Qureshi dreams of teaming up with legends like Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil if she could time-travel to the 1970s. That era’s bold vibe—full of experimental films, political stories, and stylish flair—gets her excited.
In a chat with , Huma said, “It’s the 70s. It was such a bold decade. Experimental, political, and stylish, all at once. I would have loved to do a parallel cinema classic with Shabana Azmi or Smita Patil and then also a glamorous masala entertainer in the same year. That versatility excites me.”
Huma recently stole the spotlight at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where her latest project, “Bayaan,” had its world premiere. She described the thrill of screening it to a packed crowd from around the globe. “Watching my movie with a packed house of people from all over the world was one moment that really stayed with me. Feeling their reactions in real time was ethereal,” she shared.
Stepping into producing with “Bayaan” added even more magic for Huma. As an executive producer, she helped shape everything from the script to the final cut, which made the whole process feel deeply personal. “This film is very close to my heart because I was not just acting in it but also serving as an executive producer, which meant every choice from script to screen carried a deeper responsibility,” she explained. Seeing “Bayaan” move from TIFF to the Busan International Film Festival (BIF) and connect with audiences just as the team hoped left her overwhelmed with joy.
Huma also opened up about the difference between showing films at home in India versus abroad. “At home, audiences know you—they come with certain expectations. Globally, you are almost reintroducing yourself. There is a little bit of pressure but mostly pride because you are carrying your culture and cinema with you,” she noted.
At TIFF, Huma bonded with Latin American filmmakers over shared challenges in independent cinema, like securing funding, distribution, and reaching viewers. Those struggles feel universal, no matter where you’re from.
She even caught a special screening of the iconic Indian classic “Sholay” and called it surreal to see it captivate an international crowd. “Its characters, dialogues, and emotions continue to resonate across generations and geographies. That’s the magic of cinema,” Huma concluded.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
