Huma Saleem Qureshi grew up in New Delhi, where she studied History at Gargi College, University of Delhi. While in college, she was active in theatre and later moved to Mumbai to pursue modeling. She signed a two-year contract with Hindustan Unilever and appeared in several commercials. During a Samsung mobile ad shoot, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap noticed her talent and offered her a three-film deal, leading to her debut in Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). Her performance earned her a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Since then, Huma has built a diverse career across Bollywood, South Indian cinema, and international projects. She starred in Badlapur (2015), Jolly LLB 2 (2017), and Kaala (2018) opposite Rajinikanth. She also appeared in Gurinder Chadha’s Viceroy’s House (2017). On OTT, she gained acclaim for Leila (2019) and Maharani (2021–2023). Beyond acting, she has been recognized for her fashion sense and advocacy for women’s empowerment.