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
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
- Jazbaa
- Bollywood and Beyond: A Century of Indian Cinema as Self
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
- Dus Kahaniyaan
- 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
- 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
- Jhoothi Shaan as Krishna
- Dharavi as Kumud
- Fateh as Shabana
- Antarnaad
1990
- Death of a Doctor as Seema
- Amba as Amba Bhanupratap Singh
- Disha
1989
- Main Azaad Hoon as Subhashini Saigal
- Rakhwala
- Oonch Neech Beech as Tulsi
- Sati as Uma
- Ek Din Achanak as Neeta Roy
- Picnic
1988
- The Discovery of India as Rangamma
- Madame Sousatzka as Sushila Sen
- The Bengali Night as Indira Sen
- Mardon Wali Baat
- Pestonjee as Jeroo
- Libaas as Seema
1987
1986
1984
- Hum Rahe Na Hum as Mohini P. Sahani
- Lorie as Geeta Malhotra
- Bhavna as Bhavna Saxena
- Yaadon Ki Zanjeer as Manju
- Gangvaa as Jamuna
- Kamla as Sarita Jadhav
- Paar as Rama
- The Ruins as Jamini
1983
- Mandi as Rukmini Bai
- Masoom as Indu D. Malhotra
- Avtaar
- Doosri Dulhan as Chanda
- Sweekar Kiya Maine as Gopika Sharma / Gopika K. Shukla
1982
- Namkeen
- Suraag
- Ashanti as Kamini
- Arth as Pooja
- Log Kya Kahenge as Roma
- Anokha Bandhan as Annapurna (Anu)
- Raaste Pyar Ke as Shyama
- Yeh Nazdeekiyan as Shobna
1981
- Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai as Stella
- Sameera
- Ek Hi Bhool as Meenakshi
- Shama
1980
- Hum Paanch as Sundariya
- Jwalamukhi as Kiran
- Sparsh as Kavita Prasad
- Apne Paraye as Sheila
- Yeh Kaisa Insaf? as Madhu R. Nath
- Thodisi Bewafaii
- Ek Baar Kaho as Aarti Mathur
1979
- Amar Deep
- Lahu Ke Do Rang as Roma
- Jeena Yahan as Lekha
- Kaifi Azmi as (Herself)
1978
- Junoon as Firdaus (Javed's wife)
- Khoon Ki Pukaar
- Atithee as Leela M. Kumar / Julie
- Devata
- Swarg Narak as Geeta
- Kissaa Kursee Kaa as Janata
- Toote Khilone
1977
- Amar Akbar Anthony as Laxmi
- The Chess Players as Khurshid
- Parvarish as Shabu
- Hira Aur Patthar as Gauri
- Khel Khilari Ka as Rachna
- Karm as Neelam Kumar
- Vishwasghaat as Seema
- Jallian Wala Bagh
- Swami as Saudamini
- Chor Sipahee as Priya
- Adha Din Adhi Raat as Radha / Babli
- Kanneshwara Rama as Malli
1975
- Nishant as Sushila
1974
- Ankur: The Seedling as Laxmi
- Ishk Ishk Ishk as Pammy
- Faslah as Asha Premchand
- Parinay as Rekha