New Delhi: Actor Huma Qureshi says she hopes her latest film "Baby Do Die Do", which features her as a deaf and mute contract killer, encourages filmmakers to write more unconventional and meaningful action roles for women.
Qureshi, who has also produced the thriller, said the character of Baby Karmarkar stands apart because she appears completely ordinary despite being a highly skilled assassin.
"The fact that she is so normal and regular looking and yet such a lethal killer is what makes it such an interesting tale. Baby is somebody you could meet on a Mumbai local train and not think twice about," Qureshi said in an interview with PTI.
The actor, known for projects such as "Gangs of Wasseypur" and "Maharani", said the industry is gradually moving towards writing stronger female characters, but there is still room for significant improvement.
She also criticised the way women action stars are often portrayed on screen.
"That's a misogynistic way of looking at it that women have to be in these tight-fitting clothes and be hyper-sexualised to be assassins," she said.
Directed by Nachiket Samant, "Baby Do Die Do" released on July 3. The film also stars Sikandar Kher, Chunky Panday, Seema Pahwa and Rachit Singh, and is produced by Qureshi and her brother, actor Saqib Saleem, under their banner Saleem Siblings.
Qureshi said she was immediately drawn to the script when she first read it four years ago and eventually decided to produce the film after struggling to find a suitable producer.
She described the film as a blend of thriller, comedy and musical elements, adding that the title is a translation of her character's surname, Karmarkar.
To prepare for the role, Qureshi underwent sign language training and spent time at schools for children with hearing and speech impairments to better understand the lived experiences of deaf and mute individuals.
She said portraying a character who could neither hear nor react to sounds was physically more challenging than simply not speaking.
According to the actor, Baby's disability is portrayed as a strength rather than a limitation.
"I think people often see women with disabilities as weak. Here, her disability is actually her strongest asset," she said.
Qureshi added that "Baby Do Die Do" presents what she believes is Hindi cinema's first female contract killer, distinguishing the character from female spies or serial killers previously seen on screen.
The actor will next appear in "Toxic", directed by Geetu Mohandas and starring Kannada actor Yash. The film is scheduled for release on August 26, with Qureshi playing the character Elizabeth.
