09 July,2026 04:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Huma Qureshi (Picture via YouTube trailer)
Actor Huma Qureshi believes Bollywood needs to move beyond the cliched portrayal of female assassins as glamorous, hyper-sexualised characters. Speaking about her latest action thriller Baby Do Die Do to PTI, the actress said she wanted to portray a woman whose strength lies in her abilities rather than her appearance.
Huma, who headlines and co-produces the film, plays Baby Karmarkar, a deaf and mute contract killer. Explaining what makes the character different, she said, "I wanted Baby to look like someone you'd see in a Mumbai local train. You wouldn't think she's an assassin. That's what makes her dangerous."
The actress pointed out that women in action films are often presented through a male gaze. "Why should female assassins always wear tight leather clothes, high heels and look glamorous? That's not reality. It comes from a patriarchal way of looking at women," she said, adding that she wanted to challenge this stereotype through her character.
According to Huma, Baby Do Die Do offers a refreshing perspective by focusing on the character's intelligence, instincts and resilience instead of glamour. She believes audiences are now ready to embrace female leads who are authentic and layered.
Another aspect that drew her to the film was its portrayal of disability. Baby is deaf and mute, but Huma said the film never treats these traits as weaknesses. "People assume that if a woman has a disability, she is vulnerable. We wanted to flip that perception completely," she explained.
The actress also revealed that portraying Baby required extensive preparation, particularly in understanding non-verbal communication. Since the character expresses herself without dialogue, every gesture, expression and movement had to convey emotion and intent, making the performance physically and emotionally demanding.
Huma hopes the film sparks conversations about writing better roles for women in action cinema. "Women don't have to be objectified to be powerful. They can be ordinary, relatable and still be incredibly strong," she said.
Directed by Nachiket Samant, Baby Do Die Do released in theatres on July 3. Apart from Huma, the film features Sikandar Kher, Chunky Panday, Seema Pahwa and Rachit Singh in pivotal roles. It has been produced under Saleem Siblings by Huma and her brother, Saqib Saleem.
Following the release, Huma will next be seen in Toxic, the much-awaited action entertainer starring Yash, alongside Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Rukmini Vasanth and Tara Sutaria.
