Huma Qureshi: To me, being a modern Indian woman is not about perfection
Mumbai, May 19
Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi has talked about what it means to be a modern Indian woman, saying it is not about perfection but about "authorship" and building oneself "brick by brick."
Huma shared a string of images from her visit to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, which is set to bring down its curtains on May 23, on Instagram. She spoke about carrying her roots into the global spaces with authenticity as she reflected on her journey at the French Riviera.
Huma wrote: "To me, being a modern Indian woman is not about perfection. It is about authorship. Building yourself in public. Brick by brick."
The actress added: "Carrying your roots into global spaces without diluting them. Turning survival into elegance. Turning ambition into art. And walking every carpet knowing you did not arrive by accident. Intentionally authentic... And somehow, every arrival feels a little more unforgettable .... especially stepping out of a BMW. Until the next, au revoir, Cannes."
Amid her Cannes visit, the actress rubbed shoulders with Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek on the sidelines of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, which commenced on May 12.
Earlier this week, Huma had re-shared a picture of herself with Malek from the official Instagram handle of Red Sea Film Foundation, which had the "Women in Cinema" segment.
The Red Sea Film Foundation's caption read: "On the sidelines of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, we were pleased to host "Women in Cinema" celebrating women's cinematic contributions."
"In attendance were #RedSeaFilmFoundation CEO Faisal Baltyuor, RSIFF Managing Director Shivani Pandya Malhotra, #WomenInCinema honorees Aixa Kay, Tara Sutaria, Laïla Marrakchi, Genevieve Nnaji, Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo and Kamila Andini, as well as Lama Al Kinani, Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, Rami Malek, Sara Sampaio, Lucas Bravo, Khaled Mouzanar, Helen Hoehne and Huma Qureshi."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Love this! But what about the working-class women in our villages? Their bricks are laid with sweat and struggle, not Instagram posts. Still, Huma's message about authenticity resonates. We need more voices celebrating our roots while we climb.
Modern Indian woman = Ambition + Culture. Huma's walking that tightrope brilliantly. Our mothers and grandmothers had to choose, but now we can have both. Carrying our roots forward while crushing it globally—that's the new India. 🇮🇳
As someone from outside India, this perspective is refreshing. Huma's emphasis on "authorship" rather than perfection is universal. We all need to hear that. And walking your path authentically? That's the real success.
You know what? I'm a guy and even I find this inspiring. Women aren't just modern when they wear jeans or speak English—it's about the ownership of your story. Huma representing India at Cannes while staying true to herself is something we all should learn from.
This is what happens when we stop comparing ourselves to impossible standards. Huma is right—perfection is a myth, but authenticity? That's gold. Whether you're a CEO or a chai-wali, your story matters. Let's all be "authors" of our own lives! ✨
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.