Cannes 2026 – Interview With Actress Huma Qureshi (Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups)

Indian actress Huma Qureshi champions women in film, taught Ed Sheeran some Hindi words at a party, doesn’t feel she has to choose between being a serious artist and a red carpet cupcake and has a great track record at film festivals. Her debut film, Gangs Of Wasseypur, world premiered at Cannes to plaudits from critics and audiences . 

Her Hollywood roles include the lead in Zack Snyder’s Army Of The Dead.

Her next film Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups, is one of the largest-scaled, pan-Indian film projects in the history of Indian cinema and was recently presented at CinemaCon.

But she also loves to dress up. She spoke to our Awards Editor, Rehna Azim at Cannes last month. 

Q: We often hear at festivals how women’s voices must be heard. That women need to be central to filmmaking. There’s a lot of talk about helping women rise in the industry. What is actually happening on the ground?

A: Oh, my goodness! So much and yet so little. But, you know, we can be pessimists and see the glass as half empty and say this hasn’t or that hasn’t happened. But you have to understand that for change to be effective, it has to be long-term and that doesn’t happen suddenly. The present set up is systemic. The patriarchy took a long time to become established, so to remove it from the mindset, and culture in cinema will take time.

But I feel that, today, as a female actor from India, there is space for regional films, independent films, on the world stage. I can work with giant streaming companies like Netflix and I can also say that we’ve reached a place where some of that systemic injustice is called out. 

Women may still not always get the big budgets but a lot of female voices are being heard, their films are being made and they’re finding audiences. 

I also know that other female actors are doing what I’m doing; we’re pushing the envelope, demanding better roles and higher salaries. Maybe, even just a generation back that would not have happened because women making such demands might have been seen as bossy or difficult to work with. Whereas I can say say, no, it’s not a case of being bossy, I simply know my worth. I know what I bring to the table.

Q: But when you make these demands, are you listened to or are you told, no thanks. I’ll find someone who isn’t asking for this?

A: It’s a mixed bag. It’s not that I’ve always been heard. I’ve had rejections. People have said no and that’s acceptable, that’s their stance. It’s not something that happens overnight. But you have to know your worth and build those boundaries. Maybe 10 people will say no. But you don’t need 10 people to say yes, you only need a few. You just need one person who understands you and gives you the opportunity. That’s the way I approach it.

Q: You attended the Red Sea, Women in Film, Dinner a couple of nights ago. What was the purpose of the event? 

A: It was a celebration of women, of voices not just from the Arab world and the Middle East but also Africa, Hollywood, India and the rest of the world. Demi Moore, Rami Malek, Chloe Zhao, Diane Kruger were all there. It was a fascinating evening. I met them all. Many people from behind the scenes were there too. There’s a whole army that works together to make a film And it’s so great to meet everyone. I learnt so much about what it means to work in each area of the film industry, to understand what their focus is on a project. It’s so great that we can learn from each other’s journeys and challenges. If you don’t interact with  artists, producers, directors, distributors from around the world, you’ll just remain in your own little bubble and that’s all you’ll see. Interaction like this creates a platform which allows people to healthily engage. I don’t like the word networking, but it definitely allows you to build bridges towards potential long-term collaborations. I was at TIFF last year and met some cool, young filmmaker and talked about ideas that could potentially work out. Whether they happen or not is not always the point. For me it’s about the exchange of ideas, the exchange of scripts and business models. It’s about dialogue, and that’s so important. As an actor and a young producer it’s about learning how to do business differently and learning about fresh perspectives. 

Q: You have a production company with your brother, Saleem siblings. Tell me about your upcoming film Baby, do die do.

A: It’s about a female assassin. My character’s first name is Baby and her surname when translated into English becomes ‘Do die do’. So we thought it would make a cool title. The film is in Hindi. We want a big theatrical release for it. Making a film, through all its stages, from its inception and the writing and editing involves a lot of blood, sweat and tears. But it’s a film we really believe in. There aren’t many films in which females play that kind of character. I can’t say too much at this stage, but when you see the trailer, you’ll understand what’s special and different about this particular female assassin. Male assassin films have a certain gender lens and I feel we haven’t seen a female assassin character where the film also leans into her femininity. For example, how does she use the fact that she is a woman to her advantage? 

Q: Is it an action movie or a drama?

A: It’s an action film with a great deal of drama! 

Q: Is the drama as important for you as the action in such a movie?

A: 100%! I love action movies but if they also have another layer of solid human interactions and relationship conflict, it makes it even more engrossing for me. I like to do a cool action sequence followed by a really intense scene. That’s when it becomes really heightened for me. That’s when you become more invested in the action.

Q: You’ve attended a lot of festivals with your films.  What have festivals done for your career?

A: In 2012 I first came to Cannes with my film Gangs Of Wasseypur. It meant international exposure for the film. And it was a real eye-opener, for me, as to the potential of what a film can achieve. You can make a film in India, with Indian actors, Indian finance and for the Indian market but when you come to a festival like this, you see how big it can be and how far it can reach. 

I met Ed Sheeran once. He was in India and I went to a party for him. I mean what do you say to a popstar at a party, so I started trying to teach him some Hindi words, and I said, you should see my film. I started to tell him about it and he said I  he’d seen it! I felt really chuffed. 

So, festivals are about creating global exposure for your work. I feel the time is right now, to create regional stories but to understand that the the emotions you explore in them can be universal. 

I’m interested in collaborations going both ways, learning about films and filmmakers from other countries but also helping them understand Indian films. Festivals create a solid foundation for that two way process. Whether it’s Berlin, TIFF, Busan, I’m just amazed at the landscape of cinema around the world. Festivals like film school!

Q: You’re also walking the red carpet at Cannes for a couple of big films. Now, you’re an artist and you want to showcase your work but we know that people love the red carpet and the glamour. How do you balance the glamour with your work as an actress and producer?

A: I love fashion. I love glamour. I love dressing up. There is no conflict in my head between the glamour and the work. I’m a serious actor, I do serious work but that’s my job. As a girl I love dressing up and walking the red carpet. Why should I have to be apologetic for that? It’s not an either or. That’s a very outdated way of thinking about women, that they must be boxed in and can only be either an intense actor or a cupcake! 

Q: I love that you said that! When im not writing about films, I’m a lawyer. I run the Legal Style Awards which recognise that lawyers have a life outside the profession too. When I started it,  I thought people might disapprove but they love it. Is it a recognition, in both cases, that we are more than just our career?

A: Yes! My style today, I would say, is a reflection of who I am. My early years were about experimenting with colour and designs. Now it’s about owning my power and investing in classic, elegant pieces that are timeless. For example, my mother gave me some of her old jewelry and I love it because you don’t get that level of craftsmanship anymore. So, I’m at that point where I think, what do I want to be remembered as? I think all actresses have that and want to create that one iconic look they’ll become known for.

Q: What is the process of choosing your look for a red carpet?

A: I talk to my stylist. We reach out to designers to see what might resonate with me. This year, I want to keep it classic and timeless. It’s a film festival and so the fashion has to be iconic. I remember watching Aishwarya Rai, at Cannes, as a little girl and thinking I want that, one day. So, to have a film here and walk the red carpet is a dream come true. I think she opened this world for us in India. 

For the face, I’m really into clean skin, but defined eyes and really doing up my lips. I feel I just eat up colour. Red, pink, peach. Dark clothes and red lips. I’m wearing Tony Ward and then Oscar de la Renta tomorrow.

Q: What’s it like to be on a red carpet and have hundreds of cameras flashing at you, so you can’t put a foot wrong, otherwise it will be splashed across the media? 

A: OK, this is how I dealt with that, in my head, a few years ago. I said, whatever you do, yes, you might put a foot wrong and that’s ok. Even if you fall or trip, it’s fine. You’re normal, you’re a person, you’re there for a moment. Yes, all eyes are on you but you’re human! You’re just walking after all, which is something you do all the time. Yes, people are watching you but as an actor you’re used to that.