Her last release, Tarla, tapped into an important part of Huma Qureshi’s life—her love for food. Food holds a special place for the actor whose family runs Saleem's, a Mughlai restaurant chain in Delhi. Now, the eatery, which was started by her father Saleem Qureshi in 1977, will have a new outpost in Chennai.

The restaurant has been a popular haunt in the capital for those seeking varieties of mouth-watering kebabs. Sources say the Chennai menu will be an homage to the favourites, mixing it up with new dishes that reflect the flavour of the south. Huma and actor-brother Saqib Saleem are overseeing the expansion, along with their brother Hasin.

A source says, “It’s a leap of faith. The next generation of Saleem’s—Huma, Hasin and Saqib—are determined to take the legacy forward and branch out in more cities. Besides opening more outlets across the country, the trio are planning to launch a frozen-food line.”

Huma, who is currently shooting the third season of Maharani in Bhopal, is eager to see the confluence of the north and south flavours. “This expansion is more than a new chapter for us; it’s a celebration of flavours and cultures. Chennai’s rich culinary heritage inspires us to present our best,” she says.