A professor of Hindi literature flags a student’s essay as plagiarised. Huma Qureshi, who plays the professor, speaks of her first outing in a thriller in the Zee 5 web series Mithya, that will drop on February 18.
Mithya seems to be on an interesting equation between a teacher and a student. Would you elaborate?
It’s a six-part show that is based on the successful BBC series Cheat. Yes, it’s on the relationship between a teacher and a student but it’s also a thriller. That’s something I have never attempted before. The show starts off with the perfect life of a Hindi teacher — perfect marriage, perfect profession — and then we realise it’s not so perfect and she is keeping many secrets. Then everything starts disintegrating around her once she decides to fail the student. That leads to a tussle between the two women with crazy consequences. It’s a taut thriller. It’s a genre that people in India seem to love.
This is your co-star Avantika Dassani’s debut.
Yes. Avantika is sincere and hard-working and very happy to be part of the film industry, She is a great girl. (Her mother) Bhagyashree ma’am came on set one day and we told her that we loved her in Maine Pyar Kiya.
How was the experience of shooting in Darjeeling?
We shot in St. Paul’s School in Darjeeling last August. We were staying at a lovely property. It was like being stuck in time. The weather was beautiful, the food you get in Darjeeling is awesome. It didn’t feel like an intense show that we were making. Rather it felt almost like a vacation!
How was the experience of working with Parambrata Chattopadhyay?
Param is amazing. Of course, he is celebrated in Bengal. Now he is making deep and strong inroads into Hindi. I have seen him in Kahaani, Pari, Bulbbul... I have also seen the film he has directed with Tanuja ma’am (Shonar Pahar). I was familiar with his work. You will see a different side of him in Mithya. The role he is playing is so different from any of the stuff he has done before in Hindi. He is such a fine actor.
Was this the first time you were shooting in Bengal?
Yes. Param and our DoP (director of photography) Shirsha Roy used to break out in Bangla. The first day I told them it was not fair and they must translate for me. So they told me about Abol Tabol and some of the references. It was great fun. Every day we ordered food from some different place. All of us were foodies, except Avantika perhaps. A place served awesome Tibetan food. We shot for a month in Darjeeling.
You have already acted in Tamil, Malayalam and Marathi films other than Hindi. Has Indian cinema reached the point where the language ceases to matter and the actor seamlessly carries his or her craft from one industry to the other?
Acting is acting, no matter which language. I always wanted to work in different regions. That allows me the scope to widen my horizon as an actor.
You have a packed release schedule ahead.
Yes. I am looking forward to the release of Mithya. Then there is Valamai, my Tamil film (opposite Tamil superstar Ajith that will release in four languages), a cameo in Gangubai Kathiawadi (directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali), Monica, O My Darling (with Rajkummar Rao and Radhika Apte), Double XL (with Sonakshi Sinha)… (web series) Maharani will have a second season. All this will come out this year. It’s very exciting.
Double XL will have an interesting approach, it seems from the video you released with Sonakshi.
It was a wrap announcement. We wanted to announce that we were making such a film. This idea will resonate with so many women across the world. It’s our little victory. We want everyone who watches this film to go back and look at how they talk and look at their bodies and look at their lives differently.
Avantika Dassani on her debut film
Avantika Dassani talks about her debut, shooting in Darjeeling and her mother Bhagyashree, whose career had fizzled out after she refused to act opposite any actor other than her husband.
Between your brother Abhimanyu and you, who decided to become an actor earlier?
My brother. He is older than me. Listening to his stories and experiences encouraged me to get into this space. I had gone through the whole process of workshops and grooming. I had been auditioning for some time but nothing excited me as much as Mithya did. I knew this role would set me apart.
What is it about the role that got you excited?
Rhea is a young woman who is passionate, volatile and explosive, strong outside but emotional and impulsive within. The show is about a Hindi liteature teacher and a student, and the interesting turn of events that happens in their world in Darjeeling.
It must have been your first trip to Darjeeling?
Yes. My grandparents were very excited to know I was going as they have fond memories there. The weather was beautiful. The people were so accommodating. I didn’t want to leave even after the shoot. We shot mostly in the town though some of the shoot also took place in the tea estates. I brought back a dozen packets of Darjeeling tea and gundruk masala. We had put up at the Windamere hotel, which had a lovely old colonial feel. Param and Sirshada (DoP Sirsha Roy) would sing Bengali songs and talk about music and literature. Huma (Qureshi) and I would ask them to translate.
You must have seen Maine Pyar Kiya?
I saw it in bits and pieces. It was a bit overwleming to see my mom on screen and I could never take any scene where she would be sad or she would cry. It would upset me a lot. I saw it only after a got a little older.
Your mother gave up her career soon after such a glorious debut. Tomorrow if your life partner is uncomfortable seeing you act opposite other men, would you give up your career too like she did?
We don’t live in that world any more. I will take my own decision. If I meet someone who would be happy for me being happy doing what I am doing, I don’t see that as a problem. But life has its funny ways.
Have you signed something else or are you waiting for the response to Mithya?
I am in the middle of a Telugu film. I can’t reveal more.
Pick of idols
Among the senior actors, Tabu is my all-time favourite and all of India idolised Irrfan (Khan) sir and I am no different.
Now I like Nawazuddin (Siddiqui) and Rajkummar Rao. From the new lot, I enjoy the work of Sanya Malhotra and Alia Bhatt.