Sayyida Shabana Azmi (Hindi: शबाना आज़मी; Urdu: شبانہ اعظمی; born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. Born to two members of the Communist Party of India who were both leading lights of IPTA, Azmi made her film debut in 1974. She soon became one of the leading actresses of Parallel Cinema, a left wing "New Wave" movement which received tremendous government patronage during the regimes of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. During those years, Azmi was showered with honours and awards, including a record of five National Awards, four Filmfare Awards and several international honours. Her films, of which there are around 120, are among the best examples of a form of Progressivism which reveled in reviling and deriding Indian society, its customs and traditions, thereby securing the appreciation of international audiences and Indian "intellectuals" of a left wing persuasion. Since 1988, she has acted in several foreign projects, but made no mark in that field.In addition to acting, Azmi is a social and women's rights activist. A champion of liberalism and modernity, she had a prolonged affair with the poet and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, the married father of two young children, who divorced his wife in order to marry Azmi. Herself a barren Muslim woman, she is a "Goodwill Ambassador" of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) which seeks to spread contraception and abortion in India in order to limit that country's population. In appreciation of Azmi's life and works, the Congress party's government gave her a nominated (unelected) membership of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament.
My personal favorite actor is Rajesh Khanna.I have utmost respect for him.He is the real Superstar and is among my favorite co-stars.He had an amazing blend of super-star distancing, moods, eccentricities and attitude with total groundedness, accessibility and warmth. He never got irritated with fan mobbing or hysteria. He was very affectionate with all of them and that worked superbly for him.
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I had become a fan of Rajesh Khanna even before I got into films. I was very happy to be cast opposite him in 7 successful films. I never dreamed of getting chance to act opposite such a good looking versatile hero.Khanna had a great understanding of the script and characters and on-screen he had the acumen to know exactly where Khanna the star ended and the character began which explained the brilliance of his turns in each film he did with me, Sharmila, Smita, Hema, Asha Parekhji, Zeenat, Padmini and others.
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I'm not averse to doing anything as long as it's not at cross purposes with my values and I can make time for it.
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You cannot be detached from what you portray. I think it is inevitable that the roles you play affect you. The residue is bound to remain, even after you've played the role.
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To speak in Parliament you really need to do your homework, otherwise you can be torn to shreds.
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The trick of enjoying life is to accept your age. Don't fight the years, grow with them.
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I find it very frightening to be called an icon. To be institutionalised.
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Fact
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Had a brother named Khayyam. He passed away when he was 1 year old.
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Was engaged to Benjamin Gilani in 1974.
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Cousin to Cameraman Ishan Arya. Ishan is married to Sulbha Arya (Mother of Sameer Arya. Sameer is married to Goldie Behl's daughter Shristi).
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Shabana Azmi is currently in the UK filming the lead role in Banglatown Banquet (2006) for the BBC written by Tanika Gupta, directed by 'Hettie Macdonald' and produced by 'Sam Hill'. Executive producers are Will Trotter, 'Sally Woodward' and Tessa Finch. [January 2006]
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Aunt to Bollywood actor Kamran Rizvi.
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Had successful on-screen chemistry with Rajesh Khanna and had 7 super-hit films.
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Rajesh Khanna-Shabana Azmi were paired romantically in 7 films and 6 were blockbusters and 1 was an average grosser at box office.