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
In Sparsh, she played the challenging role of a widow who emotionally supports a blind man, played by Naseeruddin Shah. Youtube screengrab
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
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.
She looked unrecognisable in Makdee, where she played a woman pretending to be a witch. Youtube screengrab
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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