'Many nights you cry alone, praying for some rays of hope,' Huma Qureshi writes a thank-you letter to her younger self

Maharani 3 actress, Huma Qureshi, wrote a heartfelt letter to her 16-year-old self on International Women’s Day. She talked about her journey and the challenges she faced while pursuing her dream of becoming an artist. In the letter, the Gangs of Wasseypur star thanked her younger self for being strong and determined despite facing criticism. She acknowledged herself for reaching where she is today and overcoming obstacles in a city like Mumbai.Huma also remembered the tough early days when she felt lonely and dealt with multiple rejections. However, she emphasized the importance of staying true to her dreams. Alongside her letter, Huma shared childhood memories on Instagram and ended by encouraging women to support each other.
The actress began her letter with, “Dear 16-Year-Old Me, Thank you for that day when you marched into your principal’s office in 11th grade. You were terrified, but your love for the stage burned brighter than your fear. You had to tell them your choice: performing arts over academics, humanities over science. Your first fight against doubt. The start of your journey toward defying expectations. They told you you were stubborn. Your dreams were wrong. You must be like the others, okay with being put in a box and taking the'safe and sensible’ route. Thank you for being so headstrong then, because that stubbornness is going to take you on an incredible journey.”
She further added, “When you came to Mumbai, you didn’t know a soul, yet you went each day to every audition and every meeting with unwavering determination. They don’t know who I am when I walk in that door, but I will make sure they remember me when I walk out. Early days are tough in a new city, with only your dreams to be your guiding light. Many nights you cry alone, praying for some rays of hope. Each rejection hurts, but you wake up, go back to work, and just keep walking on.”
Despite experiencing setbacks, Huma Qureshi has made significant progress. She believes that as she's grown older, she's gained wisdom and glamour, but she still holds onto her identity as a 'simple girl' with ambitious dreams. Moving forward, she advises her younger self not to let criticism deter her.

Huma reflects on how her 16-year-old self might perceive characters like Rani Bharati in Maharani, Rajshri in Double XL, or Monica Machado in Monica, My Darling. She believes that her younger self would admire these characters because they defy traditional expectations. According to her, these women aren't typical 'damsels in distress' or flawless heroines; instead, they're imperfect, genuine, and strong, just like herself and many other women. Ultimately, Qureshi encourages her younger self and all women to speak up and not let others silence them, as they have the power to rise above the noise.
After the success of two seasons, Huma Qureshi is back in the third season of Maharani, playing the role of Rani Bharti again. Her acting and engaging story have earned praise from viewers and fans since the show began. Directed by Saurabh Bhave, the series stars talented actors like Amit Sial, Sohum Shah, Vineet Kumar, Pramod Pathak, Kani Kusruti, Anuja Sathe, Sushil Pandey, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya in important roles.