Shabana Azmi turns 67: From Neerja to Makdee, a look at her most iconic characters
Challenging roles, controversial films, performances based on real life characters — Shabana Azmi has done it all.
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Ankur was Shabana Azmi’s first big release, and it earned her a National Film Award for her performance as a Dalit woman. Youtube screengrab
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In Sparsh, she played the challenging role of a widow who emotionally supports a blind man, played by Naseeruddin Shah. Youtube screengrab
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In Masoom, she skillfully essayed the role of a wife and mother who accepts her husband’s illegitimate child into her own family. She was paired once again with Shah. Youtube screengrab
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In what was perhaps her most controversial film, Fire, Shabana Azmi played Radha, a woman in a loveless marriage who finally finds a sense of belonging with Nandita Das’ Sita. Directed by Deepa Mehta, this film irked many groups in India. Youtube screengrab.
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She looked unrecognisable in Makdee, where she played a woman pretending to be a witch. Youtube screengrab
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Azmi continued to amaze critics and viewers alike with her performance in Neerja as the slain flight attendant Neerja Bhanot’s mother. Youtube screengrab
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