Huma Qureshi recalls the first time she went to Cannes for the premier of Gangs of Wasseypur

It’s difficult to believe Gangs of Wasseypur is turning ten this year. Anurag Kashyap’s film is still a step ahead of Hindi cinema, just as it was when it was released. There hasn’t been a Hindi film with the same level of ambition, energy, and cinephilic appetite in the intervening years. In May 2012, the film premiered as part of Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight. It was released in India in two parts in June and August. Huma Qureshi, who made her Bollywood debut with the film, took to social media to share how the experience changed her life.

She penned a note on instagram, “10 years to the EXACT day when Gangs of Wasseypur had it’s world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. My first film, the first time I saw myself on the big screen and my first time at Cannes. It was a crazy special day indeed .. thank u @vidushak for some of these images…Made me really emotional.”

Huma continued the message, thanking Anurag Kashyap for believing in her. “Thank u @anuragkashyap10 for giving me this film AND a film career .. and believing in me when no one did. Today so many people who have been part of that film are doing so well .. can’t believe how we made this film and had so much fun doing it #gratitude #blessed PS – I didn’t even know how to pose .. look at me standing like I’m part of the school choir #wewerejustkids,” she added.

It’s not hard to argue that Gangs of Wasseypur was one of the most influential Hindi films of the decade. With its dense sprawl, the film foreshadowed the long-form storytelling that would explode in the coming years with the arrival of streaming platforms. It provided the industry with the equivalent of two cricket teams’ worth of talented actors and technicians.The film’s profane flow has been imitated by a plethora of other films and television shows, but no one has done it with the same hip self-awareness and humour.

Huma Qureshi recently completed filming for the second season of her series Maharani. Double XL will be her next major project. Monica, O My Darling, which will be released on OTT, is also in the works for the actor.