MUMBAI: Actress Huma Qureshi resolved to defy beauty standards with her work in both of her upcoming films, "Double XL" and the streaming feature "Monica, O My Darling," and she appears to be living up to her promise.
In contrast to "Double XL," which needed the actress to put herself in the shoes of a girl-next-door who experiences prejudice and rejection because of her weight, "Monica, O My Darling" called for the actress to channel the oomph factor. The actress shot for both the films back-to-back and was faced with a dilemma.
Huma had gained weight for her role in "Double XL," and she had initially planned a diet and exercise routine to shed the pounds for "Monica, O My Darling." But while filming "Double XL," the actress also came to the conclusion that dieting was not the solution simply because she needed to look attractive for her upcoming role as a femme fatale.
In a statement, she revealed: "My goal in making a movie like "Double XL" was to disprove the idea that being overweight equates with being attractive and desirable. Why did I give in to society's rules when I was ready to play a femme fatale and didn't feel attractive in my own skin? I've come to understand that being attractive and feeling seductive are not related to what you wear or how much you weigh." The actress thinks that confidence is essential in a society where patriarchy sets the criteria for beauty.
"It all comes down to self-assurance and having faith that one can appear attractive if one feels glamorous. Society and patriarchy have conditioned us to think that a girl who weighs a particular amount is not attractive or glamorous. It's past time that we abandoned these ideas. In addition, I thought that since I work in a field where attractiveness is a necessity, my message would encourage other young women who are obsessed with their weight to view themselves differently "She said.
On November 4, "Double XL" is scheduled to be released in theatres, while on November 11, "Monica, O My Darling," will be available on Netflix.
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