Huma Qureshi reveals how a sassy comment to Anurag Kashyap helped her land ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’; says, 'I got paid Rs 65000'

Huma Qureshi recalls sassy interaction with Anurag Kashyap

Huma Qureshi has opened up about the unexpected and slightly cheeky first impression that played a pivotal role in landing her debut film, Gangs of Wasseypur.

Speaking at the 10th edition of Expresso, she revisited the early days of her career, sharing anecdotes about her first meeting with director Anurag Kashyap and the surprisingly modest fee she received for the now-iconic film.

Huma recalled that before Gangs of Wasseypur came her way, a casting director had recommended her for a commercial shoot, an assignment that would inadvertently set the stage for her entry into Bollywood. During the shoot, she met Anurag for the first time, but the interaction was far from the typical star-making moment.

The actor shared that she was wearing heavy makeup, the kind usually preferred for advertisement shoots, when Anurag Kashyap questioned her look. Huma remembered him pointing at her face and asking, “What is this?”

Instead of backing down, she replied with a bold, attitude-filled line that would later become part of film industry lore, “Mera dasva ad hai, aapka pehla hai (It’s my tenth ad, might be your first).”

Looking back at the moment with amusement, she added, “I think that’s when he decided I am a fit for the film.”

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Huma also revealed the amount she was paid for the film that launched her into the spotlight. “I got paid Rs 65,000 for Gangs Of Wasseypur. I would love to have that experience all over again, no matter how much the money.”

Directed by Anurag Kashyap, Gangs of Wasseypur went on to become a cult classic, featuring an ensemble cast including Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadha, Zeishan Qadri, Pankaj Tripathi, Piyush Mishra, and Jaideep Ahlawat.

On the work front, Huma is currently part of the third season of Netflix’s Delhi Crime. Her acclaimed political drama Maharani has also returned with Season 4 on SonyLIV.