'Gangs of Wasseypur male dominant, but with strong women'

Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur, being screened at the 65th Cannes International Film Festival, is a male-dominated script, but had room for strong female characters as well, says Huma Qureshi, who makes her acting debut with the movie.

Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur, being screened at the 65th Cannes International Film Festival, is a male-dominated script, but had room for strong female characters as well, says Huma Qureshi, who makes her acting debut with the movie.

“It is a male-dominated movie but the women are also very strong and irreplaceable. Though the women might not have a direct impact in the film -- for example, none of them are holding guns in the film -- but they have a very strong influence in the men's life,” Huma told IANS.

Gangs of Wasseypur explores the coal mafia in Dhanbad and features actors like Jaideep Ahlawat, Manoj Bajpayee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in key roles.

Huma plays a girl named Mohsina in the movie, made in two parts.

Talking of her role, she said: "Mohsina is a small town girl of the 1990s, and she is heavily influenced by Bollywood. In her head, she’s the Madhuri Dixit of her town. She is in love with a man who is into the local gang. He also grows up seeing Amitabh Bachchan,” she said.

Gangs of Wasseypur is being screened at Cannes film festival's Directors' Fortnight section, a non-competitive section at the festival. It will have its world premiere at the extravaganza too.

Huma, who will walk the red-carpet of the cinematic extravaganza along with other cast of the movie, is excited about it.

"I'm super duper excited and have packed my bags. I am leaving on May 20 (Sunday). The dress I am wearing is a creation by Varun Bahl. He is one of my favourite Indian designers.

"It is black and gold anarkali with an Indian stamp all over it," she added.

Huma belongs to a non-film background. She was discovered by Kashyap in a mobile commercial opposite Aamir Khan and then there was no looking back.

She will next be seen in films including Kashyap's Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana and Vishal Bhardwaj's Ek Thi Daayan.

She feels blessed to enter Bollywood at a time when women are portrayed in a strong way.

"I am blessed to enter Bollywood at the right time because as an actor, there is so much to experiment with. I don't come in the category of actors who believe in doing one kind of cinema.

"Today cinema is not only about star power as great concept has shifted the focus. As an actor I feel lucky to be present in Mumbai at a time when there are so many interesting things happening around," she said.