Personal Info
Birth date
1950-09-18 (74 Years)
Gender
Female
Known for
Acting
Place of birth
New Delhi, India
Also known as
शबाना आज़मी
Shabana Asmi
샤바나 아즈미
Шабана Азми
莎巴娜·阿兹米
莎芭娜·阿茲米
Shabana Azmi
شبانه اعظمی
Shabana Azmi
Biography
Shabana Azmi (born September 18, 1950) is an Indian actress of film, television, and theatre, as well as a women's rights activist and parliamentarian. An alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India of Pune, she debuted in Ankur (1974) and quickly became one of the leading actresses of parallel cinema, an Indian New Wave movement known for its serious content and neo-realism. Recognized as being among the most acclaimed actresses of her country, she has received a record of five National Film Awards for Best Actress, six Filmfare Awards, several international accolades, and the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour awarded by the Government of India, and the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour awarded by the Government of India. She is best known for her portrayals of unconventional female characters and many of her films have won praise for depicting progressive ideals.
Filmography
Halo
8.263
Overview:
Depicting an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, the series weaves deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future.The Discovery of India
9.8
Overview:
Bharat Ek Khoj is a 53-episode Indian historical drama based on the book The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru, that dramatically unfolds the 5000 year history of India from its beginnings to the coming of independence in 1947. The drama was directed, written and produced by Shyam Benegal with cinematographer V. K. Murthy in 1988 for state-owned Doordarshan. Benegal's regular script collaborator Shama Zaidi also co-wrote the script.Dabba Cartel
6.9
Overview:
When an investigation into a pharma company hits close to home, five women launch a tiffin service with a secret ingredient.Capital
7.111
Overview:
Set on a single street in South London, Capital is a portrait of a road transformed by soaring property prices: what was once the home of modest lower-middle class families, Pepys Road has been continuously gentrified into a street of multimillion pound houses. On one day, the people of this South London street all receive an anonymous postcard with the simple message 'we want what you have'. Its unsettling ripples affect every corner of the community.The Empire
5.3
Overview:
The story of a king battling against enemies, fate, family, death and even himself, in search of his kingdom.Next of Kin
6.375
Overview:
Whip-smart general practitioner Dr. Mona Harcourt lives in London with her political lobbyist husband Guy and her family. When a bomb goes off in London on the same day that her brother, Dr. Kareem Shirani, is abducted in Pakistan, Mona's charmed life is shaken to its core.Koffee with Karan
5.7
Overview:
Celebrity host Karan Johar gets up close and personal with various Bollywood personalities and discusses their major career milestones.Om Shanti Om
7.1
Overview:
Reincarnated 30 years after being killed in a suspicious on-set fire, a small-time actor is determined to punish the person who ignited the blaze.Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
6.2
Overview:
Gym-freak brat Rocky falls in love with Rani, who comes from a well-educated Bengali family. Being from polar opposite worlds, the two decide to switch their families to adjust to each other's cultures and backgrounds and to know if their marriage will survive. Rocky and Rani are trapped in a world where they are united by love but divided by families and the ultimate question is will they fit in?Angry Young Men
8
Overview:
Angry Young Men is the story of Salim-Javed, legendary screenwriters of 1970s Hindi cinema. Together, they created the archetype of the Angry Young Man - a brooding anti-hero who captured the imagination of an entire nation with his rage, defiance, and quest for social justice. Like the character they created, Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, two outsiders to the Hindi film industry, defied all odds, questioning the position of writers and demanding recognition as much as the reigning stars of that time. Their break-up made headlines for many years and Indian cinema never saw a cultural collaboration as powerful again. This is a personal and candid account of their lives, their writing and their legacy.What's Love Got to Do with It?
6.016
Overview:
Two childhood friends now in their thirties must decide whether to follow their heads or their hearts once the man decides to follow his parents' advice and enter into an arranged marriage in Pakistan.City of Joy
6.598
Overview:
Max Lowe is a Houston surgeon who has grown weary of the bureaucracy of American medicine. When he loses a patient on the operating table, Max impulsively decides to leave America and travel to India in the hope of finding himself. Not long after he arrives in Calcutta, Max is attacked by a group of thugs and left without money or a passport.Son of the Pink Panther
4.597
Overview:
The illegitimate son of Inspector Clouseau is on the case of the kidnapped Princess Yasmin.The Reluctant Fundamentalist
6.591
Overview:
In New York, a Pakistani native finds that his American Dream has collapsed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.Neerja
7.3
Overview:
Neerja is a portrayal on the life of the courageous Neerja Bhanot, who sacrificed her life while protecting the lives of 359 passengers on the Pan Am flight 73 in 1986. The flight was hijacked by a terrorist organization.The Chess Players
7.1
Overview:
In the year 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah is the King of Awadh, one of the last independent kingdoms of India. The British intend to control this rich land and send General Outram to clear way for an annexation. Pressure is mounting amidst intrigue and political maneuvers, but the Nawab whiles away his time in pursuit of pleasure and religious practice. The court is of no help either — noblemen Mir and Mirza ignore all duties and spend their days playing endless games of chess. Based on Munshi Premchand's short story of the same name. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with The Film Foundation in 2010.Ghoomer
8.6
Overview:
Anina, a young woman batting prodigy, loses her right hand in an unfortunate accident on the eve of her international cricketing debut. An unsympathetic, failed and frustrated cricketer enters her life, gives her a new dream and transforms her fate by the most innovative training, to make her play for the Indian cricket team again, as a bowler.Fire
6.738
Overview:
In a barren, arranged marriage to an amateur swami who seeks enlightenment through celibacy, Radha's life takes an irresistible turn when her beautiful young sister-in-law seeks to free herself from the confines of her own loveless marriage.Masoom
6.4
Overview:
D.K. Malhotra lives a comfortable lifestyle with his wife, Indu, and two school-going daughters, Pinky and Minni. He works in the office of an Architect. One day while the family is relaxing, D.K. gets a phone call that results in him bringing home a young school-going boy by the name of Rahul. Indu is shocked to learn that Rahul is D.K.'s son from another woman, Bhavana, who is no more. D.K. does his best to make Rahul comfortable, but fails. Rahul also feels that Indu does not really like him, though Pinky and Minni have taken to him in a big way. Finally, D.K. decides to admit Rahul in a boarding school in far off Nainital. Rahul reluctantly goes along with this new-found uncle/friend. It is when Rahul is asked to put his papers together for school that Rahul finds out that D.K. is his biological father. Watch what happens when Rahul disappears from D.K.'s house, and the impact this has on D.K., Indu, and her two daughters.Luck by Chance
6.5
Overview:
Not wanting the same fate as befell her sisters, Sona Mishra re-locates to Mumbai to try to make a living making movies, but she soon finds that the path she has chosen is not an easy one.Amar Akbar Anthony
6.8
Overview:
Bollywood action comedy film with a lost and found theme, about three brothers separated during their childhood who grew up in three homes, adopting three religions. They meet in their youth to fight a common villain. It was the biggest blockbuster of 1977, and won several awards at 25th Filmfare Awards including Best Actor, Best Music Director and Best Editing.Market Place
7.1
Overview:
The denizens of a brothel deal with internal drama, as well as pressure from greedy land developers and an anti-sex work politician to leave town.Sorry Bhai
4.1
Overview:
Scientist Siddharth(Sharman Joshi) is given "Ma Kasam" by elder brother Harsh(Sanjay Suri) to bring her along for his wedding with Aaliyah(Chitrangada Singh) to be held in Mauritius. Their mom(Shabana Azmi) is least interested in attending the wedding because Harsh is getting married against her wishes. Dad(Boman Irani) and Siddharth succeed in bringing mom to Mauritius where Aaliyah is SiddharthThe Bengali Night
5.8
Overview:
Allan is an engineer working in 1930s Calcutta. He is invited to stay with the family of his boss, Narendra Sen which includes his wife, Indira and daughter Gayatri. Gayatri and Allan become romantically involved leading to tragedy.Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.
5.2
Overview:
Six newly-married, diverse, honeymooning couples face marital bliss and discord, finding out more about themselves, their significant others and life in this happy-go-lucky, quirky drama.Fakira
6
Overview:
Vijay helps the poor and robs the rich, while Ajay is assigned the job to bring Vijay to justice. Thirsty for each other's blood, both men are unaware that they are brothers separated at a young age.Side Streets
6.4
Overview:
The lives of diverse characters in each of New York City's five boroughs overlap.Umrao Jaan
8.3
Overview:
Bollywood film about the famous courtesan of the title. Aishwarya Rai stars in the lead role. The film is directed by J.P. Dutta and also stars Shabana Azmi, Sunil Shetty, Abhishek Bachchan, Divya Dutta, Himani Shivpuri and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. A remake of the original directed by Muzaffar Ali and released in 1981.Acting
TBAThe Master: Shyam Benegal as Herself
TBAMasoom 2 as Unknown
TBAMasoom: The New Generation as Unknown
TBAWhat Will People Say? as Roma
TBALahore 1947 as Unknown
TBABun Tikki as Unknown
2025Dabba Cartel (7 Episodes) as Sheila
2025Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen as Unknown
2024Angry Young Men (3 Episodes) as Self
2023Ghoomer as Anina's Grandmother
2023Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as Jamini Chatterji
2023Good Morning Sunshine as Unknown
2023What's Love Got to Do with It? as Aisha Khan
2022Halo (17 Episodes) as Margaret Parangosky
2021The Empire (8 Episodes) as Aisan Daulat Begum
2021Sheer Qorma as Ammi
2020Kaali Khuhi as Satya Maasi
2020Letter From Your Far-Off Country as Self (archive footage)
2018Aunty Ji as Parvin
2018Next of Kin (6 Episodes) as Mrs. Shirani
2018Kaifinama as Unknown
2017The Black Prince as Rani Jindan
2017The Wishing Tree as The Gypsy Woman
2017Sonata as Dolon
2017Signature Move as Parveen
2016Neerja as Rama Bhanot
2016Chalk N Duster as Vidya Sawant
2015Capital (3 Episodes) as Mrs. Kamal
2015Jazbaa as Unknown
2015Bollywood and Beyond: A Century of Indian Cinema as Self
2014A Decent Arrangement as Preeti
2013The Reluctant Fundamentalist as Ammi
2013Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola as Chaudhari Devi
2012Midnight's Children as Naseem
2012Celluloid Man as Self
2011Love Breakups Zindagi as Naina's Mother
2010It's a Wonderful Afterlife as Mrs. Sethi
2009Luck by Chance as Self
2008Sorry Bhai as Gayatri
2007Dus Kahaniyaan as Unknown
2007Om Shanti Om as Self
2007Positive as Unknown
2007Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. as Naheed
2007Loins of Punjab Presents as Rrita Kapoor
2006Umrao Jaan as Khanum Jaan
2006Banglatown Banquet as Sofia
200615 Park Avenue as Prof. Anjali "Anu" Mathur
2004Koffee with Karan (2 Episodes) as Self
2004Morning Raga as Swarnalata
2004Indian Idol (1 Episode) as Self
2003Tehzeeb as Rukhsana Jamal
2002Makdee as Makdee
2002Devi Ahilya Bai as Unknown
2001Daughters of This Century as Kadambini
2000Gaja Gamini as Premchand's Nirmala
2000Hari-Bhari as Ghazala
1999Godmother as Rambhi
1998Side Streets as Mrs. Chandra Bipin Raj
1998Bada Din as Unknown
1997Fire as Radha
1997Mrityudand as Chandravati
1997Saaz as Bansidhar (Bansi) Vrundavan
1994In Custody as Imtiaz Begum
1993Son of the Pink Panther as Queen
1993Patang as Jitni
1992Immaculate Conception as Samira
1992City of Joy as Kamla H. Pal
1991Jhoothi Shaan as Krishna
1991Dharavi as Kumud
1991Fateh as Unknown
1990Amba as Amba Bhanupratap Singh
1990Death of a Doctor as Seema
1990Disha as Unknown
1989Main Azaad Hoon as Subhashini Saigal
1989Sati as Uma
1989Ek Din Achanak as Neeta Roy
1989Oonch Neech Beech as Tulsi
1989Picnic as Unknown
1989Rakhwala as Unknown
1988The Bengali Night as Indira Sen
1988Madame Sousatzka as Sushila Sen
1988Pestonjee as Jeroo
1988Mardon Wali Baat as Unknown
1988The Discovery of India (3 Episodes) as Rangamma
1988Libaas as Seema
1987Susman (The Essence) as Unknown
1986Ek Pal as Priyam
1986Nasihat as Sunita
1986Genesis as The woman
1986Khamosh as Shabana Azmi
1986Shart as Kiran Dutt
1986Samay Ki Dhaara as Madhvi A. Verma
1986Congregation as Anjuman
1984Bhavna as Bhavna Saxena
1984The Crossing as Rama
1984Gangvaa as Jamuna
1984The Ruins as Jamini
1984Hum Rahe Na Hum as Mohini P. Sahani
1984Lorie as Unknown
1984Kamla as Sarita Jadhav
1984Yaadon Ki Zanjeer as Manju
1983Doosri Dulhan as Chanda
1983Sweekar Kiya Maine as Gopika Sharma / Gopika K. Shukla
1983Avtaar as Unknown
1983Market Place as Rukmini Bai
1983Masoom as Indu D. Malhotra
1982Raaste Pyar Ke as Shyama
1982Unique Relation as Annapurna (Anu)
1982Arth as Pooja
1982Yeh Nazdeekiyan as Shobna
1982Ashanti as Kamini
1982Suraag as Unknown
1982Namkeen as Unknown
1981Ek Hi Bhool as Meenakshi
1981Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai as Stella
1981Sameera as Unknown
1980Jwalamukhi as Kiran
1980Hum Paanch as Sundariya
1980Ek Baar Kaho as Aarti Mathur
1980Apne Paraye as Sheila
1980Yeh Kaisa Insaf? as Madhu R. Nath
1980Thodisi Bewafaii as Unknown
1980Sparsh as Kavita
1979Lahu Ke Do Rang as Roma
1979Jeena Yahan as Lekha
1979Amar Deep as Unknown
1978Junoon as Firdaus (Javed's wife)
1978Devata as Unknown
1978Atithee as Leela M. Kumar / Julie
1978Khoon Ki Pukaar as Unknown
1978Kissaa Kursee Kaa as Janata
1978Swarg Narak as Geeta
1978Toote Khilone as Unknown
1977Parvarish as Shabu
1977The Chess Players as Khurshid
1977Amar Akbar Anthony as Laxmi
1977Hira Aur Patthar as Gauri
1977Karm as Neelam Kumar
1977Khel Khilari Ka as Rachna
1977Chor Sipahee as Priya
1977Swami as Saudamini
1977Adha Din Adhi Raat as Radha / Babli
1977Kanneshwara Rama as Malli
1977Jallian Wala Bagh as Unknown
1976Shaque as Unknown
1976Fakira as Neeta / Geeta
1976Kadambari as Chetna
1975Nishant as Sushila
1974Ishk Ishk Ishk as Pammy
1974Espousal as Rekha
1974Ankur: The Seedling as Laxmi
1974Faslah as Asha Premchand
1973Munshi Ji as Unknown
Sound
1984The Crossing ... Playback Singer