Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. Her career in the Hindi film industry has spanned over 160 films, mostly within independent and neorealist parallel cinema, though her work extended to mainstream films as well as a number of foreign projects. One of India's most acclaimed actresses, Azmi is known for her portrayals of distinctive, often unconventional female characters across several genres. She has won a record five National Film Wards for Best Actress, in addition to five Filmfare Awards and several international accolades. The Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri in 1998 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012.

The daughter of poet Kaifi Azmi and stage actress Shaukat Azmi, she was given the gold medal for best student in acting at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. Azmi made her film debut in 1974 with Ankur. Azmi was one of the first actresses who straddled both mainstream and parallel cinema with equal success. Satyajit Ray the distinguished filmmaker wrote in his book "Our films Their films" Shabana Azmi in her first film Ankur pulls out all the stops and establishes herself as one of the finest dramatic actresses of the country. In recent times Shabana Azmi has starred in Shekhar Kapur's What's Love Got To Do With It and Steven Spielberg's web series Halo.

In addition to acting, Azmi is a social and women's right activist. She is married to poet and screenwriter Javed Akhtar. She is a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations population Fud (UNPFA). In appreciation to Azmi's life and works, the President of India gave her a nominated (unelected) membership of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament.

Meet Shabana Azmi on Saturday, 12 August, at 10:30 AM as part of IFFM Independence Day Celebrations.

In Conversation with Shabana Azmi on Sunday, 13 August, at 11 AM as part of IFFM Chats.