Srinagar: Renowned Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi unveiled her latest book “Zeba: An Accidental Superhero” during the centenary celebrations of the India Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Srinagar.
The event brought together dignitaries, entrepreneurs, and literary enthusiasts, blending cultural pride with literary excellence.
Speaking about her book and its inspiration, Qureshi shared:
“The story is about a girl’s journey to becoming a superhero. I have also imagined a mystical, landlocked country in the mountains—ruled by an evil king. The narrative explores how the girl defeats him, delving into the kingdom’s lineage, history, and mysteries. Interestingly, the character who sets the story in motion is inspired by my mother.”
Reflecting on Kashmiri women, she added:
“I am a product of Kashmir. Growing up, I saw the incredible strength and resilience of the women in my family. Strength can take many forms—sometimes patience, sometimes silence, but always power. These qualities of Kashmiri women have deeply influenced me.”
On the professional front, Qureshi’s upcoming film Bayaan has been selected for its world premiere in the prestigious Discovery Section of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025, scheduled for September.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bikas Ranjan Mishra—known for Chauranga—Bayaan is the only Indian film featured in the Discovery section this year. Developed at Film Independent in Los Angeles, the film is produced by Shiladitya Bora of Platoon One Films, the studio behind award-winning titles such as Ghaath (Berlinale 2023) and Picasso (Amazon Prime’s first direct-to-digital Marathi film).
Bayaan is co-produced by Platoon One Films alongside Madhu Sharma (Summit Studios), Kunal Kumar, and Anuj Gupta, with Switzerland-based Sadik Keshwani (Guidant Films) as co-producer. Huma Qureshi also serves as an executive producer on the project.
The film features an ensemble cast including Chandrachur Singh, Sachin Khedekar, Sand, Avijit Dutt, Vibhore Mayank, Sampa Mandal, Swati Das, Aditi Kanchan Singh, and Perry Chhabra.
Describing the film, Mishra noted:
“Bayaan is a poignant reflection of contemporary India, where power and gender intersect in volatile and often unseen ways.”
