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
- Awarapan 2 as Nafisa Nawaz
- Batwara 1947 as Mai
- Saugaat
2025
2024
- Angry Young Men as Self
2023
- What's Love Got to Do with It? as Aisha Khan
- Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as Jamini Chatterji
- 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
- Benegal's New Cinema
- 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
- Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. as Naheed
- Loins of Punjab Presents as Rrita Kapoor
- Dus Kahaniyaan
- 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
- Daughters of This Century as Kadambini
- Meghla Akash
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
- Mrityudand as Chandravati
- Saaz as Bansidhar (Bansi) Vrundavan
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
- Inner voice as Ragini
- Jhoothi Shaan as Krishna
- Dharavi as Kumud
- Fateh as Shabana
1990
- Amba as Amba Bhanupratap Singh
- Death of a Doctor as Seema
- Disha
1989
- Main Azaad Hoon as Subhashini Saigal
- Sati as Uma
- Rakhwala
- Ek Din Achanak as Neeta Roy
- Oonch Neech Beech as Tulsi
- 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
- Hum Rahe Na Hum as Mohini P. Sahani
- Yaadon Ki Zanjeer as Manju
- Lorie as Geeta Malhotra
- The Ruins as Jamini
- The Crossing as Rama
- Bhavna as Bhavna Saxena
- Kamla as Sarita Jadhav
- Gangvaa as Jamuna
1983
- Masoom as Indu D. Malhotra
- Mandi as Rukmini Bai
- Sweekar Kiya Maine as Gopika Sharma / Gopika K. Shukla
- Avtaar
- Doosri Dulhan as Chanda
1982
- Namkeen
- Suraag
- Ashanti as Kamini
- Raaste Pyar Ke as Shyama
- Arth as Pooja
- Anokha Bandhan as Annapurna (Anu)
- Yeh Nazdeekiyan as Shobna
- Log Kya Kahenge as Roma
1981
- Sameera
- Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai as Stella
- Shama
- Ek Hi Bhool as Meenakshi
1980
- Hum Paanch as Sundariya
- Ek Baar Kaho as Aarti Mathur
- Sparsh as Kavita Prasad
- Thodisi Bewafaii
- Yeh Kaisa Insaf? as Madhu R. Nath
- Jwalamukhi as Kiran
- Apne Paraye as Sheila
1979
- Lahu Ke Do Rang as Roma
- Jeena Yahan as Lekha
- Amar Deep
- Kaifi Azmi as (Herself)
1978
- Junoon as Firdaus (Javed's wife)
- Khoon Ki Pukaar
- Swarg Narak as Geeta
- Kissaa Kursee Kaa as Janata
- Devata
- Atithee as Leela M. Kumar / Julie
- Toote Khilone
1977
- The Chess Players as Khurshid
- Parvarish as Shabu
- Adha Din Adhi Raat as Radha / Babli
- Swami as Saudamini
- Amar Akbar Anthony as Laxmi
- Khel Khilari Ka as Rachna
- Karm as Neelam Kumar
- Hira Aur Patthar as Gauri
- Chor Sipahee as Priya
- Kanneshwara Rama as Malli
- Jallian Wala Bagh
- Vishwasghaat as Seema
1975
- Nishant as Sushila
1974
- Ishk Ishk Ishk as Pammy
- Ankur as Laxmi
- Faslah as Asha Premchand
- Parinay as Rekha