Shabana Azmi, a celebrated Indian actress, has graced Bollywood films, television, and theater with her exceptional talent. Known for her impactful roles in parallel cinema, she remains one of India’s most admired actresses.

Wiki/Biography

Born as Shabana Kaifi Azmi on September 18, 1950, in Hyderabad, India, Shabana Azmi (age 73 as of 2023) attended Queen Mary School in Mumbai before graduating with a Psychology degree from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Her acting prowess was further honed at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, where she topped her class in 1972, earning a gold medal.

Physical Appearance

• Height: 5’6″
• Eye Color: Black
• Hair Color: Black

Family, Caste & Husband

Shabana Azmi hails from a Sayyid Muslim family. Her father, the late Kaifi Azmi, was a renowned Indian poet, and her mother, Shaukat Azmi, is a veteran stage actress with the Indian People’s Theatre Association. Both parents were members of the Communist Party of India.

Her family includes her brother, Baba Azmi (a cinematographer), sister-in-law Tanvi Azmi (an actress), and cousin Ishan Arya (a noted cinematographer), who was married to veteran actress Sulbha Arya. She was previously engaged to actor Benjamin Gilani. She had a seven-year relationship with film director Shekhar Kapur before marrying Javed Akhtar, a celebrated poet, lyricist, and screenwriter.

Shabana is stepmother to Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar. Interestingly, her nieces are the famous Bollywood actresses Farah Naaz and Tabu.

Career

After graduating from FTII, Shabana simultaneously signed on for “Faslah” (1974) and “Parinay” (1974). Her first release, however, was “Ankur” (1974). Known for her ability to portray real-life characters convincingly, she also appeared in Hollywood films such as “Madame Sousatzka” (1988) and “City of Joy” (1992).

Her television debut was with the series “Anupama,” and she’s also a prominent figure in stage plays, including M. S. Sathyu’s “Safed Kundali” (1980) and Feroz Abbas Khan’s “Tumhari Amrita.”

Controversies

Shabana Azmi has been involved in several controversies throughout her career. One notable incident involved a tweet during Navratri in 2019, which sparked debate and led to clarifications from the actress. Another controversy arose during the “Padmavati” (now “Padmaavat”) film release, where she voiced her support for the film and its lead actress, Deepika Padukone, leading to a public exchange with director Madhur Bhandarkar.

The film “Fire” (1996), which depicted lesbianism, generated significant controversy and protests. An earlier incident involving a kiss from Nelson Mandela during his 1993 visit to India also caused a stir among various communities.

A song from the movie “I Don’t Love You” (2013) also led to a public disagreement, and Shabana publicly criticized Naseeruddin Shah’s comments on the film “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” (2013) and its lead actor, her stepson Farhan Akhtar.

Awards & Honours

Shabana Azmi’s contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards:

Favourite Things

• Food: Hyderabadi Biryani
• Actor: Shashi Kapoor, Dev Anand, Amitabh Bachchan
• Actress: Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan, Madhubala, Nargis
• Film: Mughal-e-Azam
• Colour: Red, Blue, Black
• Travel Destination: New York, London, Venice
• Book: Chokher Bali

Facts

Shabana Azmi was initially known as “Munni.” The writer Ali Sardar Jafri gave her the name “Shabana” when she was 11. She was chosen to star in “Ankur” (1974) after several other actresses declined the role. Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan’s performance inspired Shabana to pursue a career in acting. A committed socialist, Shabana actively supports causes like child survival, fighting AIDS, and social justice.

She has participated in numerous demonstrations and marches for communal harmony and social change. She’s served as a member of the National Integration Council and the National AIDS Commission of India and was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for India by the United Nations Population Fund. She also served as a Member of Rajya Sabha.

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