Sharjah | Actress, producer, and now author Huma Qureshi captivated audiences at the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair during a session titled “From Screen to page : An evening with Huma Qureshi”.The event highlighted her debut novel, “Zeba : An Accidental Superhero” offering an intimate look at the journey from screen to page.

She revealed that writing has become a fulfilling “side hustle” for her. Her novel follows Zeba, a female superhero who is, ironically, weary of saving the world. "I’ve always loved the idea of imperfect people doing superhero-like things," Huma explained. She believes everyone has a superhero within them, and her book aims to challenge traditional portrayals of women in fiction—particularly the idealized, flawless images that often dominate the narrative. "Zeba wears her vulnerability on her sleeve. She’s not perfect, and that’s what makes her real," Huma shared.Writing from the perspective of a woman was "liberating," she said, as it allowed her to draw on her own experiences rather than adhering to clichéd or idealized narratives. "It was important to show a woman who is neither put on a pedestal nor victimized," she remarked.

The plunge into the world of writing The novel’s tone is raw and unfiltered, with each character driving the plot forward through first-person narratives. Huma describes her writing style as “free-flowing,” or what she humorously refers to as “vomit writing”—a candid, unpolished process that allowed her to write without fear of perfection. "I think people are often scared to write," she said. "But I just took the plunge."

The actress also shared her initial nerves leading up to the book’s release. With movies, the blame for a flop can be placed on the director or scriptwriter, but a book—her book—was entirely her responsibility. "It gave me jitters," she admitted.

On the topic of adapting her book into a television series, Huma revealed that she had initially pitched the story as a TV show, but was told the fantasy elements would require substantial financial backing. Nonetheless, she expressed a desire to see the book come to life on screen, either as a movie or series. She even entertained the idea of directing it herself, though she noted the challenge of balancing both acting and directing. "If I can find actors who will accept me doing both, I would love to give it a shot," she said.

When asked about the book's exploration of therapy, where the superhero herself needs psychological support, Huma joked, "Even superheroes need therapy. They have PTSD from fighting and saving the world."

Huma also reflected on her love for film making, stating that she feels most alive on a film set. "I want to die on a film set too," she joked, underscoring her deep connection to the world of cinema.

The session was moderated by Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment Editor at Gulf News.