'Baby Do Die Do' director on Huma Qureshi's mute-deaf assassin role
Synopsis
A Hindi film about a professional female assassin who is mute and deaf — director Nachiket Samant says that creative gap is exactly what drew him to 'Baby Do Die Do'. With Huma Qureshi stripped of all dialogue, Samant calls it the most demanding thing he's put her through — and says she delivered completely. The film hits screens on 3 July 2025.
Key Takeaways
Director Nachiket Samant revealed the creative logic behind making Huma Qureshi 's character Baby Karmarkar mute and deaf in 'Baby Do Die Do' .
The film was conceived around a gap in Hindi cinema — no major Bollywood film had previously centred on a professional female assassin, according to Samant.
Mumbai 's crowds are integral to Baby's method: she kills and vanishes into the city's density.
Samant described removing Qureshi's dialogue as 'the perfect challenge', saying it pushed her to places he had not seen her go before.
The film also stars Sikander Kher , Chunky Pandey , Seema Pahwa , Rachit Singh , and Marudhar Shekhawat .
Produced by Saqib Saleem under Saleem Siblings with Pune 04 Films , the film releases on 3 July 2025 .
Director Nachiket Samant has opened up about one of the boldest creative choices in his upcoming Mumbai-set thriller 'Baby Do Die Do' — casting Huma Qureshi as a mute and deaf professional assassin, a character he describes as 'the perfect challenge' for the actress.
How the Character Was Born
Samant revealed that the film's premise emerged from a deceptively simple question. 'We were just riffing one day — has there ever been a Hindi film about a professional female assassin? We couldn't think of one. That gap was instantly exciting, so we went after that character, and the world kind of built itself around her,' the director said.
The character, named Baby Karmarkar, is a contract killer whose operating method is shaped by Mumbai's dense urban fabric. 'She kills and disappears into the crowd. That's what's so unique about her — it's as much about the escape as it is about the kill,' Samant explained.
Why Baby Is Mute and Deaf
The decision to strip Baby of dialogue was not merely a stylistic flourish — Samant framed it as a deliberate creative pressure test. 'Huma's a fully tayyar actor, but this time, suddenly taking away her dialogues seemed like the perfect challenge. It forced her somewhere I hadn't seen her go, and she rose to it completely,' he said.
Samant acknowledged that while the larger-than-life concept came naturally on the page, grounding it in believability depended entirely on Qureshi's craft. 'All the rootedness, Huma brought. It's one thing to write a fantastic character — you still need a solid actor to bring it to life,' he added.
Cast and Production
Beyond Qureshi, 'Baby Do Die Do' features Sikander Kher, Chunky Pandey, Seema Pahwa, Rachit Singh, and Marudhar Shekhawat in pivotal roles. The film is produced by Saqib Saleem under his banner Saleem Siblings, in collaboration with Pune 04 Films.
Release Date
'Baby Do Die Do' is set to release on 3 July 2025. The film marks a notable departure for Qureshi, who has previously taken on expressive, dialogue-driven roles — making Baby Karmarkar arguably her most unconventional screen outing to date.
Point of View
With no dialogue to paper over weak moments. Samant's framing of it as a 'challenge' for Qureshi is honest, but the real challenge is structural: can a Hindi mainstream thriller sustain tension without its lead character ever speaking? If it works, it could reset expectations for how Bollywood writes women in action roles. If it doesn't, the gimmick will be the story. The 3 July release will be the verdict.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Baby Do Die Do' about?
'Baby Do Die Do' is an upcoming Hindi thriller about a professional female assassin named Baby Karmarkar, played by Huma Qureshi, who is mute and deaf. Set in Mumbai, the film follows her method of killing and disappearing into the city's crowds.
Why is Huma Qureshi's character mute and deaf in the film?
Director Nachiket Samant made the character mute and deaf as a deliberate creative challenge, wanting to push Qureshi beyond her usual dialogue-driven performances. He said removing her dialogues 'forced her somewhere I hadn't seen her go.'
When does 'Baby Do Die Do' release?
'Baby Do Die Do' is scheduled to release on 3 July 2025.
Who else stars in 'Baby Do Die Do'?
Alongside Huma Qureshi, the film features Sikander Kher, Chunky Pandey, Seema Pahwa, Rachit Singh, and Marudhar Shekhawat in pivotal roles.
Who has produced 'Baby Do Die Do'?
The film is produced by Saqib Saleem under his banner Saleem Siblings, in collaboration with Pune 04 Films.
