Dystopia is utopia that's sold to people: Huma on future setting of 'Leila'

What happens when your dream of a better future turns into your worst nightmare is the premise that attracted Huma Qureshi to star in Netflix show "Leila", which explores a dystopian future of oppressive socio-political-religious order.

The actor, who plays the lead in the series adaptation of Prayaag Akbar's critically acclaimed book of the same name, said people always aspire for a better world without thinking that what they are asking might go the other way.

"Sometimes dystopia is the very utopia that you are sold. We all are sold dreams and we think, 'Oh, this is like a great future that we're going to get.' But is it really going to be that great?" Huma told PTI during an interview.

"'Leila' explores that if a dream is promised, then what if that dream is not so rosy? And there is something deeper and more sinister that is going on. This is what the show very bravely attempts to challenge," she added.

As an actor, Huma said, it was exciting to explore different themes. In the case of "Leila", it was the dystopian setting that appealed to her the most.

"I think being an actor, that is the reason why you do this. You have the ability to not just play different characters, but also inhabit and make believe a world that may or may not exist. It could be another galaxy, time travel or your country set in the future.

"That is what essentially attracts you to acting. Although we don't have a reference point for what may happen in the future, that's the whole idea of human imagination."
"I may have a strong opinion about something but do I really engage with it? What would happen if I was put in a situation like that? That, I think, is something that a lot of people will be able to relate to when they watch the show."