Huma Qureshi: Producers would tell me, lose five kilos

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In 2014, Huma Qureshi had graced the cover of a magazine's body edition, with the headline reading ‘My body, my rules'. The cover was a part of the actor's relentless endeavour to promote self-love and body positivity in an industry that, until recently, couldn't look beyond waif-thin and slender frames. Now, she has taken the conversation against body shaming a step ahead by throwing her might behind Double XL. Did she actively seek out the script, or was it the other way around? Qureshi says the film was conceptualised from a casual conversation in her living room. "We were lamenting about how much weight we had put on during the pandemic. Sonakshi [Sinha] and I were discussing how throughout our career, people always have something to say about how we look. Mudassar [Aziz, writer] was there, and he suggested we make a movie about this."

That set the ball rolling on Satramm Ramani's directorial offering, which highlights self-love by narrating the story of two women who challenge the norms set by society. Since the subject was so close to her heart, Qureshi turned producer with it. The actor also piled on 20 kilos for the role. "There is a culture where a specific body type is [projected] as perfect. It leads to bullying and unhealthy lifestyle choices. We shouldn't adhere to the [conditioned] idea of perfection. Even Barbie dolls have moved away from this idea. We, as people in show business, need to do better. Why are we telling young girls and boys that they are only as good as their skin colour, or waist size? Why are we devaluing a human being by negating their personality? [Through the movie], we are saying that every body type is beautiful, and everyone needs to be celebrated and empowered."

The film was born from Huma Qureshi and Sonakshi Sinha's chat

During the pandemic, Will Smith's video that saw him flaunt his dad bod got much love from fans the world over. But female celebrities are often pressured more to conform to beauty standards.

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Qureshi says she felt the pressure as soon as she set foot in Bollywood - be it by way of critics' reviews, or losing out on films. "In a review of my second film [Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana], someone wrote, ‘Huma is a lovely actor, but she is five kilos too heavy to be a mainstream leading lady.' Imagine how demotivating it is to hear that for a young person trying to break into the industry. [At the time], it was perfectly acceptable to say it. A person may [have put on weight] because of a mental health disorder or a medical condition; it's not always about being lazy. After that review, I was lost.

I went through a phase when I was desperately trying to fit in. I rejected myself for a long time. When I went for events, people would post my worst angle and write a catty comment. Producers would come by and say, ‘Lose five kilos, it will make the film better.' I am sure I lost movies because of my size. But over time, I made the journey to being this person who knows that she is more than a number on the scale. I kept telling myself to focus on work. If my size mattered, I wouldn't still be working here." With Double XL, the actor has a single objective. "Sona and I channelled our personal struggles and insecurities into the movie. I hope it makes people feel seen, heard and acknowledged."