In her latest appearance on mid-day’s Sit With Hitlist, Huma Qureshi opened up about her admiration for Madhuri Dixit and her unforgettable experience working alongside the legendary actress in Dedh Ishqiya. Reflecting on her journey, Huma shared how surreal it felt to act opposite her childhood idol.
“For me, my inspiration was Madhuri Dixit since childhood. Just the way she danced. Every girl has lifted their shirt and tied it into a knot and done Ek Do Teen steps,” Huma said, reminiscing fondly. “And then in Dedh Ishqiya, I played her lover. Dreams do come true; all I am saying is be careful what you wish for. I definitely wanted to breathe the same air as hers and understand her enigma.”
Huma Qureshi on working with Madhuri Dixit in Dedh Ishqiya
Huma revealed that she “completely relished and enjoyed the experience” of working with Madhuri, describing her as “as gorgeous as it comes, inside and out.” The actress also spoke about the film’s layered storytelling, saying, “The angle of the film is inspired by Ismat Chughtai’s Lihaaf. I auditioned for it — I can act as I am speaking Urdu, I am aware of the basics — and I managed to convince them. I was happy to be a part of the film.”
Huma Qureshi reveals that a kissing scene was dropped
Interestingly, Huma also shared that a kiss scene between her and Madhuri was originally part of the script but was later dropped. “I came to know, while discussing with Chaubey, that in the earlier draft, there was a kiss scene between us, which seemed a bit too much, so it wasn’t a part of the film. However, I really went for the role,” she revealed.
Praising Madhuri’s professionalism and calm presence on set, Huma added, “Madhuri ma’am is amazing, I learnt a lot from her. The time she came from, I kept asking about how things were when she started off. She had a different perspective, which was very eye-opening for me. She is someone who doesn’t waste her energy on pointless discussions.”
Huma recalled a moment that deeply impacted her understanding of senior actors’ discipline. “There was one day when all four of us were in a scene and all of us were quite excited; however, Madhuri ma’am was sitting quietly. After we expressed our excitement, she quietly asked Chaubey what she was supposed to do in the scene. That made me realise how the seniors actually work,” Huma said.
“She is a simple Maharashtrian lady who talks about her kids,” Huma concluded, describing Madhuri’s humility and warmth. “And that is what has been extremely endearing for me.”