A still from the series

After a decade of playing different roles, some less consequential than others, Qureshi found the SonyLIV web series that put her character front and centre. She feels the narrative of women in power is underplayed in mainstream stories. “With Maharani, I have tasted blood. I have shouldered a series by myself. Then, to do one song and two scenes [is pointless]. I have realised I can contribute so much more as an artiste. I wasted a lot of time early on in my career. I was confused, and was operating from fear while making choices. The last two years have opened my eyes. I have stopped second-guessing myself. Maharani is the first time in a while that people sat up and took notice of me as an actor. The show has made me a more assured actor.”

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The political drama will be more keenly watched after the success of its first edition. As the one leading the project, does she feel the pressure? “In a way, the series is familiar for me, and not as pressurising. We are no longer building from scratch. I know Rani instinctively now, so I know her reactions well. We can’t gauge the success of [a project] before its release, but we have made the best show we could.”