2021 was a reassuring year for Huma Qureshi. Riding high on the success of her digital outing, Maharani — which won her both awards and accolades — Qureshi is ready to make bold choices, including calling the shots as producer for her next, Double XL.

With a film that tackles the mental agony that results from being body-shamed, Qureshi is addressing a subject that hits closer to home. “This is a film that I, just like a lot of other girls, identify with. It could be deemed brave, but it is really just the need of the hour. There is a lot of conversation around body-image issues. As aritstes, it is our responsibility to put out stories like these. Above all, it is essentially a funny, light-hearted entertainer that attempts to make a social change,” says the actor, aptly roping in none other than Sonakshi Sinha for the part of the protagonist.

Evidently Sinha, who has also spent a fair share of her time in Bollywood fielding comments on her figure, could connect with the script. “Her association with the film has taken its energy to new levels”.

Given that discussion around Qureshi’s weight has gained as much attention as her professional laurels, one would assume that the subject leaves her with a bitter taste. However, she says that it was director Mudassar Aziz’s humorous take on the matter that drew her to the film. “I backed this because it was entertaining. If change has to be made, it can be done [by exploiting] popular culture. While it stands for strong female voices, it is a fun movie.”

Meanwhile, she also returns before the camera for the second season of Maharani. “After the first few months of the pandemic, we had to decide whether we wanted to wait, or go ahead and continue working. I decided to go out and do the best work I could. It found its audience and this risk has paid off. In these difficult times, I am lucky that I got the opportunity to entertain people with this show.”