Qureshi was initially scheduled to make her film debut with Billa II, a Tamil gangster-thriller, directed and produced by Chakri Toleti, after surviving an audition out of 700 candidates. Kashyap kept his promise, though, signing her for a three-film deal with his company Anurag Kashyap Films. You hear lots of such stories in this industry, so I wasn't waiting with bated breath". Qureshi recalled: "I didn't believe him then. During a shoot for a Samsung Mobile commercial, director Anurag Kashyap was impressed with her acting ability and promised to use her in a film. She promoted a range of products, including Samsung Mobile (with Aamir Khan), Nerolac (with Shah Rukh Khan), Vita Marie, Saffola oil, Mederma cream and Pears soap. Qureshi signed a two-year contract with Hindustan Unilever to appear in their television commercials.
But when my friend called me for an audition for a movie called Junction, it set me thinking. In 2008, she moved to Mumbai to audition for film roles, auditioning for a film, Junction, which was never made: "I never thought of coming to Mumbai or being an actress. She has worked with several NGOs and assisted a documentary filmmaker. K Shrama was her mentor and acting teacher during her theatre days. Later, she joined Act 1 theatre group and performed in a few theatre productions. She completed her bachelor's in History with Honours from the Gargi College- University of Delhi. The family relocated to Kalkaji, South Delhi, when Qureshi was a child. She has three brothers, including actor Saqib Saleem. Her father, Saleem Qureshi, is a restaurateur who runs a chain of 10 restaurants (Saleem's) her mother, Ameena Qureshi (a Kashmiri), is a housewife. Qureshi was born on 28 July 1986 into a Muslim family in New Delhi, India.
Huma was praised for portrayal of the character of Rani Bharti in SonyLiv web series Maharani. She made her web series debut with the 2019 dystopian drama Leila. Qureshi's later roles included in films like Jolly LLB 2 (2017) and Dobaara: See Your Evil (2017). She portrayed protagonists in the anthological Shorts (2013), protagonist in the black comedy Dedh Ishqiya (2014), and supporting roles in the revenge drama Badlapur (2015) and the Marathi road drama Highway (2015). That same year, she played the lead female role in the romance Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, and followed it with a role in Ek Thi Daayan. Her performance in the film earned her several nominations, including the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut and the Best Supporting Actress. Qureshi made her film debut with a supporting role in the two-part 2012 crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur.
During the shoot for a Samsung mobile commercial, Anurag Kashyap noticed her acting ability and signed her for a three-film deal with his company.
After working in several theatrical productions, she moved to Mumbai and signed a two-year contract with Hindustan Unilever to appear in television commercials. Qureshi obtained a bachelor's degree in History-with honours-from the University of Delhi, while she worked as a theatre actor and model. She has also received three Filmfare Award nominations. Huma Saleem Qureshi ( pronounced born 28 July 1986) is an Indian actress and model who primarily appears in Hindi language films.