Huma Saleem Qureshi, born on July 28, 1986, in New Delhi, India, is a prominent Indian actress renowned for her contributions to Hindi cinema, regional films, international projects, web series, and television. She remains an active figure in the entertainment industry, celebrated for portraying strong, multifaceted female characters that challenge stereotypes and promote diverse narratives.
Qureshi hails from a Muslim family. Her father, Saleem Qureshi, is a successful restaurateur owning the Saleem’s chain in Delhi. Her mother, Ameena Qureshi, is a homemaker with Kashmiri heritage. She has three brothers, including actor Saqib Saleem. The family moved to Kalkaji, South Delhi, during her childhood, fostering a supportive middle-class environment that encouraged her artistic pursuits.
Educated in New Delhi, Qureshi graduated with a bachelor’s degree in History Honours from Gargi College, University of Delhi. She developed a passion for theatre through the Act 1 group, mentored by N. K. Sharma, where she participated in stage productions and collaborated with NGOs. In 2008, she relocated to Mumbai to pursue her acting career.
Qureshi began with theatre and commercials for brands like Samsung and Nerolac. Discovered by director Anurag Kashyap, she made her debut in 2012 with Gangs of Wasseypur (Parts 1 and 2), earning acclaim for her portrayal of Mohsina. Her work spans genres, including Dedh Ishqiya (2014), Badlapur (2015), and Jolly LLB 2 (2017), contributing to Indian cinema by blending mainstream and parallel storytelling with emphasis on women’s empowerment.
She expanded into regional cinema with films in Marathi (Highway, 2015), Malayalam (White, 2016), and Tamil (Kaala, 2018; Valimai, 2022). Internationally, she appeared in Viceroy’s House (2017) and Army of the Dead (2021). In digital media, she starred in Netflix’s Leila (2019), SonyLIV’s Maharani (2021–present) as a resilient politician, and ZEE5’s Mithya (2022), addressing social and political themes.
Qureshi judged India’s Best Dramebaaz (2018), hosted Fit Fab Feast (2021), and featured in music videos like “Mitti Di Khusboo” (2014). Recent projects include Tarla (2023) as chef Tarla Dalal, as well as upcoming films Maalik, Jolly LLB 3, Bayaan (TIFF 2025 premiere), and Toxic (2026).
In 2023, Qureshi authored Zeba: An Accidental Superhero (HarperCollins), a fantasy novel exploring empowerment and identity through a relatable female protagonist. Qureshi has secured 26 wins and 61 nominations, including the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actress (2021) in the Web series ‘Maharani’.