Page 10 - July 2018 Magazine

Huma QuresHi:

sexual Harassment

at work place not

being managed

well in india

ctress Huma Qureshi said people in India have a
tendency to intimidate a woman when she opens
up about sexual harassment, making her feel like
Aan offender instead of a victim. She feels there is
a need to create a safer and comfortable environment for
women.
“To be honest, sexual harassment at work place is not being
managed well. We often have a tendency to intimidate or talk
against a woman when she speaks out on sexual harassment
as if she is the offender not the man,” Huma told.
“We need to change the environment where more women feel
safer and more comfortable to talk about who is harassing
them. It is our responsibility as a society,” she added. The
actress, who opened up about facing sexual advances from
people associated with showbiz and different professions,
said men need to be part of the dialogue to bring a change.
“I am a feminist. When I say I am feminist, I mean an equal
world. I don’t believe in an unequal world. An equal world can
be created when men and women come together. We cannot
do this without the men. We need good, strong male role
models as well...So that other men have role model to follow.
It has to be done together.”
When it comes to gender equality in the industry, she said,
“The problem will go away when we talk about women
working behind the scene. There were female actors, but
there were few female technicians, women directors, editors,
camera person. Today, I see a lot more women working
behind the camera.”
“It creates a far more safer environment.” From ‘Gangs
of Wasseypur’, ‘Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana’, ‘Ek Thi
Daayan’, ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ to ‘Jolly LLB 2’, Huma takes up
strong female characters in films.
She has delivered hits like ‘Ek Thi Daayan’, ‘Badlapur’ and
‘Jolly LLB 2’, but failed to generate the expected response
with films like ‘Dedh Ishqiya’, ‘D-Day’, ‘Dobaara: See Your very important as an artiste to generate work for ourself...We don’t need to be main
Evil’ and ‘Kaala’. From Shah Rukh Khan to Salman Khan to protagonist all the time but just to be able to find interesting stuff.”
Anushka Sharma, there are many actors who are expanding “It is amazing that men and women are getting into production and creating extremely
their horizons by coming out with production houses. And interesting content.” “You need not rely on theatrical release. You need not be
Huma feels getting into production is the ‘next logical step’ dependent on the hit or flop aspect. You can just create a work of art and that is so
for every actor. liberating and amazing.”
“As an actor, that is the next logical step because all actors So, when is she stepping into production?
- men or women - have certain shelf life and we have to “Well, keep your eyes and ears open,” she said with a chuckle. Asked about her next
wait for the right script and right project to come to us. It is project, she said, “Going through some. I will let everyone know when it is confirmed.”

10 |DALLAS | JULY 2018 | VOL 154 www.thebmagazine.com