Huma Qureshi believes it is time to rethink how female assassins are portrayed on screen. Speaking about her latest film Baby Do Die Do, the actor said the long-standing image of women killers in tight-fitting outfits and hyper-sexualised roles reflects patriarchal thinking rather than reality.
According to PTI, Huma said she wanted Baby Do Die Do to present an assassin who looked “normal and regular”, someone who could easily blend into a crowd rather than stand out. She described her character as the kind of person “you just meet in a Mumbai local and not bat an eyelid”, adding that she hopes the film encourages writers to create more layered roles for women.
For decades, Bollywood has largely embraced the glamorous femme fatale, where style often overshadows substance. Characters in films such as Ek Villain Returns or stylised action thrillers have frequently prioritised seductive imagery alongside violence. Hollywood has followed a similar path with films like Charlie’s Angels, Salt and Red Sparrow, where fashion and glamour remain central to female action heroes.
Huma argues that Baby Do Die Do deliberately moves away from that formula. Her character, a deaf and mute contract killer, turns what is commonly perceived as a disability into her greatest strength rather than a weakness.
Directed by Nachiket Samant, Baby Do Die Do was released in cinemas on 3 July. The film also stars Sikandar Kher, Chunky Panday, Seema Pahwa and Rachit Singh. Huma will next appear in Geetu Mohandas’ action drama Toxic, alongside Yash, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Rukmini Vasanth and Tara Sutaria.
