Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
September 18, 1950
Place of Birth:
New Delhi, India
Social Media
Shabana Azmi
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.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen | |
| 2023 | Ghoomer | Anina's Grandmother |
| 2023 | Good Morning Sunshine | |
| 2023 | What's Love Got to Do with It? | Aisha Khan |
| 2023 | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | Jamini Chatterji |
| 2021 | Sheer Qorma | Ammi |
| 2020 | Letter From Your Far-Off Country | Self (archive footage) |
| 2020 | Kaali Khuhi | Satya Maasi |
| 2018 | Aunty Ji | Parvin |
| 2018 | Kaifinama | |
| 2017 | Signature Move | Parveen |
| 2017 | The Wishing Tree | The Gypsy Woman |
| 2017 | The Black Prince | Rani Jindan |
| 2017 | Sonata | Dolon |
| 2016 | Chalk N Duster | Vidya Sawant |
| 2016 | Neerja | Rama Bhanot |
| 2015 | Jazbaa | |
| 2015 | Bollywood and Beyond: A Century of Indian Cinema | Self |
| 2014 | A Decent Arrangement | Preeti |
| 2013 | Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola | Chaudhari Devi |
| 2013 | The Reluctant Fundamentalist | Ammi |
| 2012 | Celluloid Man | Self |
| 2012 | Midnight's Children | Naseem |
| 2011 | Love Breakups Zindagi | Naina's Mother |
| 2010 | It's a Wonderful Afterlife | Mrs. Sethi |
| 2009 | Luck by Chance | Self |
| 2008 | Sorry Bhai | Gayatri |
| 2007 | Loins of Punjab Presents | Rrita Kapoor |
| 2007 | Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. | Naheed |
| 2007 | Positive | |
| 2007 | Dus Kahaniyaan | |
| 2007 | Om Shanti Om | Self |
| 2006 | 15 Park Avenue | Prof. Anjali "Anu" Mathur |
| 2006 | Umrao Jaan | Khanum Jaan |
| 2006 | Banglatown Banquet | Sofia |
| 2004 | Morning Raga | Swarnalata |
| 2003 | Tehzeeb | Rukhsana Jamal |
| 2002 | Makdee | Makdee |
| 2002 | Devi Ahilya Bai | |
| 2001 | Daughters of This Century | Kadambini |
| 2000 | Hari-Bhari | Ghazala |
| 2000 | Gaja Gamini | Premchand's Nirmala |
| 1999 | Godmother | Rambhi |
| 1998 | Side Streets | Mrs. Chandra Bipin Raj |
| 1998 | Bada Din | |
| 1997 | Fire | Radha |
| 1997 | Saaz | Bansidhar (Bansi) Vrundavan |
| 1997 | Mrityudand | Chandravati |
| 1994 | In Custody | Imtiaz Begum |
| 1993 | Son of the Pink Panther | Queen |
| 1993 | Patang | Jitni |
| 1992 | City of Joy | Kamla H. Pal |
| 1992 | Immaculate Conception | Samira |
| 1991 | Dharavi | Kumud |
| 1991 | Jhoothi Shaan | Krishna |
| 1991 | Fateh | |
| 1990 | Amba | Amba Bhanupratap Singh |
| 1990 | Death of a Doctor | Seema |
| 1990 | Disha | |
| 1989 | Ek Din Achanak | Neeta Roy |
| 1989 | Picnic | |
| 1989 | Sati | Uma |
| 1989 | Main Azaad Hoon | Subhashini Saigal |
| 1989 | Rakhwala | |
| 1989 | Oonch Neech Beech | Tulsi |
| 1988 | Madame Sousatzka | Sushila Sen |
| 1988 | Pestonjee | Jeroo |
| 1988 | Libaas | Seema |
| 1988 | The Bengali Night | Indira Sen |
| 1988 | Mardon Wali Baat | |
| 1987 | Susman (The Essence) | |
| 1986 | Khamosh | Shabana Azmi |
| 1986 | Nasihat | Sunita |
| 1986 | Samay Ki Dhaara | Madhvi A. Verma |
| 1986 | Ek Pal | Priyam |
| 1986 | Congregation | Anjuman |
| 1986 | Genesis | The woman |
| 1986 | Shart | Kiran Dutt |
| 1984 | The Crossing | Rama |
| 1984 | Gangvaa | Jamuna |
| 1984 | The Ruins | Jamini |
| 1984 | Hum Rahe Na Hum | Mohini P. Sahani |
| 1984 | Kamla | Sarita Jadhav |
| 1984 | Yaadon Ki Zanjeer | Manju |
| 1984 | Lorie | |
| 1984 | Bhavna | Bhavna Saxena |
| 1983 | Masoom | Indu D. Malhotra |
| 1983 | Doosri Dulhan | Chanda |
| 1983 | Market Place | Rukmini Bai |
| 1983 | Sweekar Kiya Maine | Gopika Sharma / Gopika K. Shukla |
| 1983 | Avtaar | |
| 1982 | Arth | Pooja |
| 1982 | Suraag | |
| 1982 | Yeh Nazdeekiyan | Shobna |
| 1982 | Raaste Pyar Ke | Shyama |
| 1982 | Namkeen | |
| 1982 | Unique Relation | Annapurna (Anu) |
| 1982 | Ashanti | Kamini |
| 1981 | Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai | Stella |
| 1981 | Sameera | |
| 1981 | Ek Hi Bhool | Meenakshi |
| 1980 | Apne Paraye | Sheila |
| 1980 | Jwalamukhi | Kiran |
| 1980 | Sparsh | Kavita |
| 1980 | Yeh Kaisa Insaf? | Madhu R. Nath |
| 1980 | Hum Paanch | Sundariya |
| 1980 | Ek Baar Kaho | Aarti Mathur |
| 1980 | Thodisi Bewafaii | |
| 1979 | Lahu Ke Do Rang | Roma |
| 1979 | Jeena Yahan | Lekha |
| 1979 | Amar Deep | |
| 1978 | Swarg Narak | Geeta |
| 1978 | Junoon | Firdaus (Javed's wife) |
| 1978 | Toote Khilone | |
| 1978 | Atithee | Leela M. Kumar / Julie |
| 1978 | Devata | |
| 1978 | Khoon Ki Pukaar | |
| 1978 | Kissaa Kursee Kaa | Janata |
| 1977 | Amar Akbar Anthony | Laxmi |
| 1977 | Karm | Neelam Kumar |
| 1977 | Parvarish | Shabu |
| 1977 | Adha Din Adhi Raat | Radha / Babli |
| 1977 | The Chess Players | Khurshid |
| 1977 | Swami | Saudamini |
| 1977 | Kanneshwara Rama | Malli |
| 1977 | Khel Khilari Ka | Rachna |
| 1977 | Chor Sipahee | Priya |
| 1977 | Hira Aur Patthar | Gauri |
| 1977 | Jallian Wala Bagh | |
| 1976 | Kadambari | Chetna |
| 1976 | Fakira | Neeta / Geeta |
| 1976 | Shaque | |
| 1975 | Nishant | Sushila |
| 1974 | Espousal | Rekha |
| 1974 | Faslah | Asha Premchand |
| 1974 | Ankur: The Seedling | Laxmi |
| 1974 | Ishk Ishk Ishk | Pammy |
| 1973 | Munshi Ji | |
| Bun Tikki | ||
| Lahore 1947 | ||
| What Will People Say? | Roma | |
| Masoom: The New Generation | ||
| Masoom 2 | ||
| The Master: Shyam Benegal | Herself |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Dabba Cartel | Sheila |
| 2024 | Angry Young Men | Self |
| 2022 | Halo | Margaret Parangosky |
| 2021 | The Empire | Aisan Daulat Begum |
| 2018 | Next of Kin | Mrs. Shirani |
| 2015 | Capital | Mrs. Kamal |
| 2004 | Koffee with Karan | Self |
| 2004 | Indian Idol | Self |
| 1988 | The Discovery of India | Rangamma |