A stalwart who has seamlessly bridged the world of parallel cinema and commercial blockbusters in Hindi films, Shabana Azmi has time and again redefined what it means to be a leading lady, both on and off screen. From winning a National Award for her very first film, Ankur, to continuing to stay relevant in a career spanning over five decades, she has seen it all—and lived it with grace, depth, and conviction. The daughter of two renowned artists, Kaifi Azmi and Shaukat Azmi, her creative roots run deep, and her expressive eyes and chiselled features have ruled hearts across generations. In a deeply personal episode of In The Ring With Filmfare, now streaming on Filmfare’s YouTube channel, the veteran actor sits down for a candid and no-holds-barred conversation with Jitesh Pillai, Editor-in-Chief, Filmfare. Shabana opens up about the highs and lows of her career, media-fuelled rivalries, her love-hate relationship with Smita Patil, her admiration for Dilip Kumar, the secret to her enduring marriage with Javed Akhtar, the timeless wisdom she carries from her parents, and much more.
When asked what she would tell her younger self, Shabana responded with no regrets, saying, “To do what exactly I did, the way I did it—there’s no alternative route I would suggest to my younger self. Every decision, every mistake, was part of the path.”
Remembering the charisma of the late legend Dilip Kumar, someone she deeply admired, she said, “There was something about the way he conducted himself—so much dignity. He was a seducer in the gentlest way, the way he held his stories. No one did romance like him. I was just a fan. What stayed with me? That he was a chatora.”
Dispelling long-standing rumours about rivalries with fellow actresses, she clarified, “We were all very friendly. With Rekha and Neetu, we spent a lot of time together. The idea that I hated other actresses is just not true.”
Shabana also addressed the media-fuelled tension between her and Smita Patil, revealing, “There were lots of imaginary roles she thought I had snatched from her, but it wasn’t like that. Shyam Benegal knew exactly who he wanted for each part. In fact, Manthan was initially offered to me. I couldn’t commit to 32 days, and Shyam was so upset, he replaced me with Smita. He never forgave me for that.”
She further spoke about her dynamic with Smita, adding, “Our relationship was very crooked due to various reasons—many of which were shaped by how the media portrayed us. But her parents were always very kind to me. After her sudden passing, I became a sort of surrogate Smita Patil, and I instantly regretted ever speaking to her uncharitably.”
Shabana Azmi opened up about witnessing Parveen Babi’s mental health struggles on set, “We were doing a Prakash Mehra film, Jwalamukhi, and she suddenly looked at the chandelier and started screaming, ‘This chandelier is going to fall on me.’” Shabana added that even during Ashanti, there were signs something wasn’t right. “She used to eat two grapes and say, ‘I’m bursting.’”
Recalling the moment she almost quit films, Shabana shared, “I wept and said I didn’t want to work in films ever. Sulakshana Pandit told me, ‘You can’t do this. You’re the heroine—they can’t afford to let you go.’ She made such a difference to my life.”
Recounting her early days in the industry, she noted, “When I told Abba I wanted to act, he said, ‘Even if you want to be a cobbler, be the best one.’ Amma never gave speeches, but I watched her prepare—every role, every detail. That stayed with me.”
Speaking about her marriage with Javed Akhtar, she expressed, “We respect each other a lot. But more than that—we’re very good friends. Javed says, ‘Shabana is such a good friend, it surpasses our marriage.’”
To the next generation of actors, her advice was clear: “Don’t act because you can dance or dress well. You need to feel like you’ll die if you can’t do it. You’ll face rejection every day, and you need a heart of stone. It has to come from within.” Discussing the evolution of the craft, she highlighted, “You can’t just feel emotions—you have to learn the technicalities. Earlier, the cameras were stiff. Now they’re flexible, and it changes how you perform.”