BizAsia meets Huma Qureshi in London for ‘Oculus’ remake

Huma Qureshi made her Bollywood debut with ��Gangs of Wasseypur�۪ (2012) and has gone from strength-to-strength since.�� Her latest release, ��Badlapur�۪ (2015), won her much acclaim for her performance and also did great business at the Box Office.�� The actress is currently busy shooting for her upcoming film, Bollywood�۪s official remake of the Hollywood horror, ��Oculus�۪ (2013).�� BizAsia had the opportunity to spend some time on the sets of the film in London, where we had the opportunity to chat with the film�۪s leading lady.

First of all, Huma, congratulations on the success of ��Badlapur�۪ (2015), your performance was fabulous.

Thank you so much.

You�۪ve had quite an impressive filmography so far with many performance-driven roles.�� However, you�۪ve never done a horror movie before.�� What convinced you to sign the ��Oculus�۪ remake?

I have done ��Ek Thi Daayan�۪ (2013) earlier, which was similar to the horror genre.

Wouldn�۪t you agree that ��Ek Thi Daayan�۪ was more of an edge-of-the-seat thriller, whereas ��Oculus�۪ most definitely belongs to the horror genre?

I agree with that.�� This remake is actually a very psychological film, more intensity.

Understandably, the film would be adapted somewhat to cater to an Indian audience.�� With Rhea Chakraborty signed in a cameo role opposite your brother in the film, will your character also have a love interest?

Yes, there is someone.

Has an actor been signed on for that role?

I cannot actually comment on that right now.

Have you seen the original Hollywood film?

I have.�� I love horror movies.�� In fact, the genre, the story is what attracted me to take on this film.�� Also, I�۪m getting to work with my real life brother (Saqib Saleem).

How has it been working with Saqib?

It is quite strange actually.�� Sometimes we�۪re shooting a scene and then after the scene, you have to switch off from being the characters.�� It is a different experience to be working with him, to be in a professional environment with him.�� In real life, Saqib and I are very close.�� In the movie, our characters meet after a long gap, a gap of many years, so the characters are not as close as we are in real life.

What do you expect from the movie, once it is released?

I expect it to do really well.�� The original actually was made on a budget of 4 million and went on to make about 45 million.�� If we can do somewhere even close to that in the Indian market, it will be really nice.�� It�۪s always good to have a hit film but I think most importantly, I want the film to be a good film.�� It should be a film that when I look back, I will look back and say, you know what, that was a good decision to have that kind of movie in your body of work.

��Are there any other films of yours that your fans can look forward to?

Lots of them (laughs).�� However, I think we should stick to the remake of ��Oculus�۪ today, for which I am very excited right now.�� Fingers crossed, Inshallah, this shall do really well.

Have you done anything special while you�۪ve been shooting here in the UK?

Just the usual, tourist stuff, shopping, walking around and visiting all the good places and musicals, theatre, movies��_ a bit of tennis��_ all of that.

Any message for your fans in the UK?

Watch the movie when it releases (laughs) and it�۪s been great to be filming over here.�� I think it is great fun.�� The people, the country, it�۪s very, very hospitable and we�۪ve got so much of love.�� It�۪s been really nice to come here and shoot.�� It is a great place otherwise also, culturally or just to travel around and eat and just chill.�� I always love London.

BizAsia would like to thank Huma Qureshi for taking out time for the interview. ��The ‘Oculus’ remake, which is untitled as yet, is set to release in the early months of 2016.