My favourite Huma Qureshi role is of Mohsina from Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). Centred around the long standing feud between three influential families, this action thriller took the standards of cinema to a new height. Although the plotlines were mainly concerned with the male heads of the families, the women characters were equally powerful and carved out a spot for themselves in the two-part film. I felt Mohsina was the finest. Dressed in bright-coloured salwar kameez, with her long hair styled into a plait, she flashed a dazzling smile and looked beautiful. She was courageous, bold and outgoing, posing a challenge to her bloodthirsty clan. Despite being from the rival side, she remained loyal to her sweetheart Faizal (played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui) until his death. Her transition from a fearless woman to a suppressed, lovelorn one was agonising but her optimism remained intact, enabling her to navigate through every hardship and inspiring her to ultimately move out of that domain with the intention of starting afresh. Her character brilliantly described the condition of women belonging to families that are always at loggerheads with one another. Huma possesses a magical charisma, making her screen presence a pleasure to watch. Her cameo in Gangubai Kathiawadi in the song Shikayat, was irresistible. Even if one offers her limited screen time, she knows how to use it with ease and grace. She's one of the most gifted talents of the industry. (My favourite Huma Qureshi role is... July 7)

Aayman Anwar Ali

My favourite film featuring Huma Qureshi is Gangs Of Wasseypur. No movie has had more of an impact on Bollywood than the GOW series. Huma Qureshi stood out among the diverse cast, which was made up of some of the best acting talents in Bollywood. While the multi-generational crime saga was full of well-known performers, Huma was one of the few new ones who impressed. She played Mohsina Hamid, the love interest of Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Faizal. Huma and her character do not fall under the category of 'hero's wife'. Mohsina is an interesting character in her own right and has a definite arc that ends with the story. Her words: "Permission leni chahiye naa" is still used by Netizens in memes and jokes.

Roshni Ojha

Huma's portrayal of Mohsina in Gangs of Wasseypur was commendable and I've been an admirer of her work ever since. Huma as Pushpa in Jolly LLB 2 won my heart with her stellar performance. I loved her cute and fun chemistry with Akshay Kumar. Her character brought a touch of humour along with emotional depth to the plot. In Monica, O My Darling Huma showed her versatility as an actor with her portrayal of Monica. She adds substance to a character that would have otherwise been reduced to a mere object of lust. No one else could have been a better choice for this role.

Ronali Raha

Huma Qureshi delivers an incredibly powerful performance as a sex worker (Jhimli) in Sriram Raghavan's dark revenge drama, Badlapur. Her paramour, Liak (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), is accused of a bank heist and the impulsive killing of a mother-son duo. Liak locks horns with Varun Dhawan’s Raghav, who is on a mission of avenging the death of his son and wife. The devoted 'seductress' that she is, she is resolved to withhold the name of Liak's accomplice from Raghav even at the cost of getting caught in an unholy imbroglio.

Huma depicts the anguish of a faithful lady love who bears the brunt of her lover's wrongdoings. She stands her ground unflinchingly and suffers sexual abuse from Raghav repeatedly. The pathos of her character is best brought out in the scene where she expresses her inability to accompany Liak, being in the throes of a moral dilemma. A helpless, distressed, inconsolable Jhimli’s tears know no bounds when she bids him a final farewell. Jhimli makes Raghav realise that unlike Liak who had achieved emancipation through death, Raghav would continue to be plagued by the niggling pain of murdering two innocent souls as long as he would live. Huma plays her role with conviction and utmost integrity. She weaves magic with her beauty, grace and confidence and turns her character into an inspiration!

Suparna Ghosh

My favourite is Rani Bharti from Maharani, a political drama inspired by many real-life events. Rani Bharti has many shades. Her rapid transformation from a simple homemaker to a politician-cum-ruler is magnificent. She looks simply fabulous as a loving mother and caring wife. She is also super confident as a politician who doesn't know how to read or write. The instant change in routine, fear of the unknown and the fight with her enemies are all portrayed well. Her accent sounds believable enough. As a whole, it is a character which needed intense acting and Huma excelled in that department.

Sarbani Banerjee

In the digital space, it is Rani Bharti from the political drama web-series Maharani. My favourite in films is Mohsina Hamid in Gangs of Wasseypur, in which the gorgeous actress also made her Bolly debut.

Sourish Misra