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
2025
2024
- Angry Young Men as Self
2023
- Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as Jamini Chatterji
- Ghoomer as Anina's Grandmother
- What's Love Got to Do with It? as Aisha Khan
- Good Morning Sunshine
2022
- Halo as Margaret Parangosky
2021
- Sheer Qorma as Ammi
- The Empire as Aisan Daulat Begum
2020
- Kaali Khuhi as Satya Maasi
- Letter From Your Far-Off Country as Self (archive footage)
2018
- Kaifinama
- Next of Kin as Mrs. Shirani
- Aunty Ji as Parvin
2017
- Signature Move as Parveen
- The Black Prince as Rani Jindan
- The Wishing Tree as The Gypsy Woman
- Sonata as Dolon
2016
- Neerja as Rama Bhanot
- Chalk N Duster as Vidya Sawant
2015
- Jazbaa
- Bollywood and Beyond: A Century of Indian Cinema as Self
- Capital as Mrs. Kamal
2014
- A Decent Arrangement as Preeti
2013
- Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola as Chaudhari Devi
- The Reluctant Fundamentalist as Ammi
2012
- Celluloid Man as Self
- Midnight's Children as Naseem
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
- Positive
- Om Shanti Om as Self
- Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. as Naheed
- Dus Kahaniyaan
- Loins of Punjab Presents as Rrita Kapoor
2006
- Umrao Jaan as Khanum Jaan
- Banglatown Banquet as Sofia
- 15 Park Avenue as Prof. Anjali "Anu" Mathur
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
- Hari-Bhari as Ghazala
- Gaja Gamini as Premchand's Nirmala
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
- Immaculate Conception as Samira
- City of Joy as Kamla H. Pal
1991
- Fateh
- Dharavi as Kumud
- Jhoothi Shaan as Krishna
1990
- Amba as Amba Bhanupratap Singh
- Disha
- Death of a Doctor as Seema
1989
- Picnic
- Rakhwala
- Suddenly, One Day as Neeta Roy
- Sati as Uma
- Main Azaad Hoon as Subhashini Saigal
- Oonch Neech Beech as Tulsi
1988
- Libaas as Seema
- Madame Sousatzka as Sushila Sen
- The Bengali Night as Indira Sen
- The Discovery of India as Rangamma
- Pestonjee as Jeroo
- Mardon Wali Baat
1987
1986
- Congregation as Anjuman
- Genesis as The woman
- Nasihat as Sunita
- Khamosh as Shabana Azmi
- Shart as Kiran Dutt
- Samay Ki Dhaara as Madhvi A. Verma
- Ek Pal as Priyam
1984
- Bhavna as Bhavna Saxena
- Kamla as Sarita Jadhav
- Gangvaa as Jamuna
- Lorie as Geeta Malhotra
- The Crossing as Rama
- Yaadon Ki Zanjeer as Manju
- The Ruins as Jamini
- Hum Rahe Na Hum as Mohini P. Sahani
1983
- Avtaar
- Masoom as Indu D. Malhotra
- Market Place as Rukmini Bai
- Doosri Dulhan as Chanda
- Sweekar Kiya Maine as Gopika Sharma / Gopika K. Shukla
1982
- Ashanti as Kamini
- Unique Relation as Annapurna (Anu)
- Namkeen
- Arth as Pooja
- Suraag
- Yeh Nazdeekiyan as Shobna
- Raaste Pyar Ke as Shyama
1981
- Shama
- Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai as Stella
- Ek Hi Bhool as Meenakshi
- Sameera
1980
- Apne Paraye as Sheila
- Jwalamukhi as Kiran
- Thodisi Bewafaii
- Hum Paanch as Sundariya
- Yeh Kaisa Insaf? as Madhu R. Nath
- Ek Baar Kaho as Aarti Mathur
- Sparsh as Kavita
1979
- Jeena Yahan as Lekha
- Lahu Ke Do Rang as Roma
- Amar Deep
- Kaifi Azmi as (Herself)
1978
- Swarg Narak as Geeta
- Junoon as Firdaus (Javed's wife)
- Kissaa Kursee Kaa as Janata
- Toote Khilone
- Khoon Ki Pukaar
- Atithee as Leela M. Kumar / Julie
- Devata
1977
- Karm as Neelam Kumar
- Parvarish as Shabu
- The Chess Players as Khurshid
- Amar Akbar Anthony as Laxmi
- Swami as Saudamini
- Adha Din Adhi Raat as Radha / Babli
- Chor Sipahee as Priya
- Hira Aur Patthar as Gauri
- Jallian Wala Bagh
- Kanneshwara Rama as Malli
- Khel Khilari Ka as Rachna
- Vishwasghaat as Seema
1975
- Nishant as Sushila
1974
- Faslah as Asha Premchand
- Ankur: The Seedling as Laxmi
- Ishk Ishk Ishk as Pammy
- Espousal as Rekha