Before diving into Baby Do Die Do, Huma Qureshi knew one thing for certain: that it won’t be a film whose opening numbers could be tom-tommed about. Instead, she viewed her production as a “film that people should discover”. Now, as director Nachiket Samant’s action thriller that began on a slow note is entering its third week, the actor and producer’s vision has become a reality.  

“We live in a culture where people are quick to write you off. Unfortunately, today the first 72 hours determine how big or successful your film is. Years of somebody’s hard work cannot be judged on a weekend. Sometimes we need a little time and word of mouth,” Qureshi told mid-day.

That’s exactly what drove Baby Do Die Do, centred on Qureshi’s hitwoman. Not only has the audience praised the thriller, but also filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap and Sudhir Mishra have supported it by organising screenings. That’s a big win for Qureshi and her brother Saqib Saleem.

Qureshi recalled, “It was a massive risk that we took with our eyes wide open. A lot of people tried to dissuade us. Beyond a point, I stopped discussing with people because the only difference between genius and stupidity is our success.” 

The actor was convinced about putting her might behind this story for a bigger reason. “We are on the path to give a fighting chance to ourselves and people like us who don’t have a lot of opportunities. Now, people are making safe films and those without backing don’t fit into those films because there is no proof of concept. But how will you have proof of concept if we don’t get an opportunity?”

‘Baby Do Die Do’ was inevitably compared to ‘Alpha’ that released on the same day. How does Huma Qureshi react to the comparisons? “I can make my film shine without bringing down another human. I know how difficult it is for a woman to have projects mounted around them. So, it’s amazing that two distinct films, headlined by women, came on the same date,” she said.