Shabana Azmi
Born: 1950-09-18 in New Delhi, India
Known For: Acting
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
2026
- Batwara 1947 as Mai
- Awarapan 2 as Nafisa
2025
2024
- Angry Young Men as Self
2023
- Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as Jamini Chatterji
- What's Love Got to Do with It? as Aisha Khan
- Ghoomer as Anina's Grandmother
- Good Morning Sunshine
2022
- Halo as Margaret Parangosky
- The Master: Shyam Benegal as Herself
2021
- The Empire as Aisan Daulat Begum
- Sheer Qorma as Ammi
2020
- Kaali Khuhi as Satya Maasi
- Letter From Your Far-Off Country as Self (archive footage)
2018
- Next of Kin as Mrs. Shirani
- Aunty Ji as Parvin
- Kaifinama
2017
- The Black Prince as Rani Jindan
- Signature Move as Parveen
- The Wishing Tree as The Gypsy Woman
- Sonata as Dolon
2016
- Neerja as Rama Bhanot
- Chalk N Duster as Vidya Sawant
2015
- Capital as Mrs. Kamal
- Bollywood and Beyond: A Century of Indian Cinema as Self
- Jazbaa
2014
- A Decent Arrangement as Preeti
2013
- The Reluctant Fundamentalist as Ammi
- Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola as Chaudhari Devi
2012
- Midnight's Children as Naseem
- Celluloid Man as Self
2011
- Love Breakups Zindagi as Naina's Mother
2010
- It's a Wonderful Afterlife as Mrs. Sethi
2009
- Luck by Chance as Self
2008
- Sorry Bhai as Gayatri
2007
- Om Shanti Om as Self
- Dus Kahaniyaan
- Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. as Naheed
- Loins of Punjab Presents as Rrita Kapoor
- Positive
2006
- Umrao Jaan as Khanum Jaan
- 15 Park Avenue as Prof. Anjali "Anu" Mathur
- Banglatown Banquet as Sofia
2004
- Indian Idol as Self
- Koffee with Karan as Self
- Morning Raga as Swarnalata
2003
- Tehzeeb as Rukhsana Jamal
2002
- Makdee as Makdee
- Devi Ahilya Bai
2001
- Meghla Akash
- Daughters of This Century as Kadambini
2000
- Gaja Gamini as Premchand's Nirmala
- Hari-Bhari as Ghazala
1999
- Godmother as Rambhi
1998
- Side Streets as Mrs. Chandra Bipin Raj
- Bada Din
1997
- Fire as Radha
- Saaz as Bansidhar (Bansi) Vrundavan
- Mrityudand as Chandravati
1994
- In Custody as Imtiaz Begum
1993
- Son of the Pink Panther as Queen
- The Kite as Jitni
1992
- City of Joy as Kamla H. Pal
- Immaculate Conception as Samira
1991
- Jhoothi Shaan as Krishna
- Dharavi as Kumud
- Fateh
- Antarnaad
1990
- Amba as Amba Bhanupratap Singh
- Disha
- Death of a Doctor as Seema
1989
- Rakhwala
- Main Azaad Hoon as Subhashini Saigal
- Oonch Neech Beech as Tulsi
- Ek Din Achanak as Neeta Roy
- Sati as Uma
- Picnic
1988
- The Discovery of India as Rangamma
- The Bengali Night as Indira Sen
- Madame Sousatzka as Sushila Sen
- Pestonjee as Jeroo
- Mardon Wali Baat
- Libaas as Seema
1987
1986
1984
- Lorie as Geeta Malhotra
- Kamla as Sarita Jadhav
- Hum Rahe Na Hum as Mohini P. Sahani
- Yaadon Ki Zanjeer as Manju
- Paar as Rama
- Gangvaa as Jamuna
- The Ruins as Jamini
- Bhavna as Bhavna Saxena
1983
- Masoom as Indu D. Malhotra
- Mandi as Rukmini Bai
- Sweekar Kiya Maine as Gopika Sharma / Gopika K. Shukla
- Doosri Dulhan as Chanda
- Avtaar
1982
- Namkeen
- Arth as Pooja
- Suraag
- Ashanti as Kamini
- Log Kya Kahenge as Roma
- Raaste Pyar Ke as Shyama
- Yeh Nazdeekiyan as Shobna
- Anokha Bandhan as Annapurna (Anu)
1981
- Ek Hi Bhool as Meenakshi
- Shama
- Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai as Stella
- Sameera
1980
- Hum Paanch as Sundariya
- Sparsh as Kavita
- Ek Baar Kaho as Aarti Mathur
- Apne Paraye as Sheila
- Jwalamukhi as Kiran
- Thodisi Bewafaii
- Yeh Kaisa Insaf? as Madhu R. Nath
1979
- Jeena Yahan as Lekha
- Lahu Ke Do Rang as Roma
- Amar Deep
- Kaifi Azmi as (Herself)
1978
- Junoon as Firdaus (Javed's wife)
- Kissaa Kursee Kaa as Janata
- Atithee as Leela M. Kumar / Julie
- Khoon Ki Pukaar
- Toote Khilone
- Devata
- Swarg Narak as Geeta
1977
- The Chess Players as Khurshid
- Parvarish as Shabu
- Amar Akbar Anthony as Laxmi
- Khel Khilari Ka as Rachna
- Chor Sipahee as Priya
- Karm as Neelam Kumar
- Kanneshwara Rama as Malli
- Adha Din Adhi Raat as Radha / Babli
- Vishwasghaat as Seema
- Swami as Saudamini
- Jallian Wala Bagh
- Hira Aur Patthar as Gauri
1975
- Nishant as Sushila
1974
- Ishk Ishk Ishk as Pammy
- Ankur: The Seedling as Laxmi
- Faslah as Asha Premchand
- Parinay as Rekha