Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi
Azmi at the SFU in October 2009
Born
Shabana Kaifi Azmi

(1950-09-18) 18 September 1950 (age 74)
Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, India
Occupations
  • Actress
  • social activist
WorksFull list
Spouse
​
(m. 1984)​
Parents
Relatives
FamilyAkhtar-Azmi family
HonoursPadma Bhushan (2012)
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
27 August 1997 – 26 August 2003
Nominated byK. R. Narayanan
Preceded byM. Aram
Succeeded byHema Malini
ConstituencyNominated (Arts)
Signature

Shabana Azmi (born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. Her career in the Hindi film industry has spanned over 160 films, mostly within independent and neorealist parallel cinema, though her work extended to mainstream films as well as a number of international projects. One of India's most acclaimed actresses, Azmi is known for her portrayals of distinctive, often unconventional female characters across several genres.[1] She has won a record of five National Film Awards for Best Actress,[2][3] in addition to six Filmfare Awards and several international accolades. The Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri in 1998 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012.

The daughter of poet Kaifi Azmi and stage actress Shaukat Azmi, she is an alumna of Film and Television Institute of India of Pune. Azmi made her film debut in 1974 with Ankur and soon became one of the leading actresses of parallel cinema, then a new-wave movement of art films known for their serious content and realism and sometimes received government patronage.[2][4] Several of her films have been cited as a form of progressivism and social reformism which offer a realistic portrayal of Indian society, its customs and traditions.

In addition to acting, Azmi is a social and women's rights activist. She is married to poet and screenwriter Javed Akhtar.[5] She is a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA). In appreciation of Azmi's life and works, the President of India gave her a nominated (unelected) membership of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament.[6]

  1. ^ "Shabana Azmi | FCCI". Journal of Indian Cinema. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b PTI (22 July 2005). "Parallel cinema seeing changes: Azmi". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  3. ^ Nagarajan, Saraswathy (18 December 2004). "Coffee break with Shabana Azmi". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 31 December 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  4. ^ K., Bhumika (21 January 2006). "Shabana's soap opera". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  5. ^ Edward A. Gargan (17 January 1993). "In 'Bollywood,' Women Are Wronged or Revered". New York Times.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference paedia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).