Bhubaneswar: Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi declared from the platform of a local channel during an event here on Friday that Rasagola belongs to Odisha. “Rasagola is in everyone’s heart and it belongs to everyone,” she said.
A controversial statement with Bengal and Odisha at loggerheads since long over its place of origin. “Now, give me my tin of Rasagola since I lost my chance of getting one from there,” she said jokingly.
The actress, however, revealed that ‘Kheer Kadam’ was her favourite sweet dish.
Starting her address to the audience with ‘Namaskar Odisha, Apanamane Kemeti Achanti’, Huma dwelled on how the lockdown during COVID outbreaks had impacted life in the country during OTV Foresight 2022.
She also decoded how a regional film can break barriers of language and culture. She played a cop just-released Ajith-starrer ‘Valimai‘ ‘in Tamil and has been getting praises all across the country.
The actress further said that context and content are the king on OTT platforms. “The OTT somehow made things democratic. Someone sitting in some corner of the world with a camera can tell stories,” she said. Notably, she has made a very successful OTT career with ‘Leila’, ‘Maharani’ and ‘Mithiya’.
Citing the example of ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, the actress then called for legalisation of prostitution in India to abolish the taboo associated with it in our society. She said it will help create a monitoring mechanism and would ensure no minors or anyone are forced into sex trade.
Huma has a special song appearance in the film helmed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
She also gave the example of her character in the critically-acclaimed movie Badlapur, who was physically assaulted by the protagonist. “In that case, who does she complain to? Is there anybody who will empathise with a sex worker who has been assaulted, because she may be a sex worker, but she is a human being too and she has a right to say no?”
The actress also said that she was not averse to acting in an Odia movie, provided the script is good.
Huma has proven her versatility through her various roles be it ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’, ‘Ek Thi Daayan’, ‘Badlapur’, ‘Jolly LLB 2’, ‘Maharani’, or now ‘Valimai’.
