'Actor is like daily-wage laborer': Why Huma Qureshi turned producer
What's the story
Actor Huma Qureshi recently revealed that she became a producer "out of necessity" due to the lack of opportunities in the industry. Speaking at Bollywood Hungama's BH OTT India Fest 2025, she explained how this decision was driven by her desire to tell stories that resonate with her artistically. The session was titled The Power of Performances - Decoding Huma's Artist Code.
Career shift
'Lack of opportunity...you don't know who's going to make it'
Qureshi said, "Lack of opportunity, lack of sometimes wanting to do artistically a story that you really want to do, but you don't know who's going to make it." She compared acting to being a daily wage laborer, saying actors have to seek work from others. "You know an actor is like a daily wage laborer. You have to go to people and ask them for work."
Production journey
'So many people come to you with great ideas...'
Qureshi said she took up producing because it allowed her to create the kind of work she wanted. "So I turned producer out of necessity more than anything else," she said. "So many people come to you with great ideas... but you feel like they don't have the right people making it or the money to raise it or the right studio or just the access to so many rooms."
Family affair
Qureshi's production journey with brother Saqib Saleem
Qureshi, along with her brother Saqib Saleem, has produced three films so far. "Both Saqib and I now, in fact, we've just made our third film, which will come out next year. And we are first-generation producers. We learn on the job," she said. "We made a lot of mistakes, we will make a lot of mistakes, but it's okay, because we are here."
New perspective
'It teaches you so much...'
Qureshi also shared how producing changed her perspective as an actor. "It teaches you so much, and I think a lot of actors will sort of get off their high horse," she said. She stressed that understanding audiences better is key, saying, "Ultimately, what we're doing is for you." Qureshi was recently seen in Delhi Crime Season 3.