Shabana Azmi
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
Credits
- 2026 · Lahore 1947 as Mai
- 2026 · Awarapan 2 as
- 2025 · Dabba Cartel as Sheila
- 2025 · Bun Tikki as
- 2025 · Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen as
- 2024 · Angry Young Men as Self
- 2023 · Ghoomer as Anina's Grandmother
- 2023 · Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as Jamini Chatterji
- 2023 · Good Morning Sunshine as
- 2023 · What's Love Got to Do with It? as Aisha Khan
- 2022 · The Master: Shyam Benegal as Herself
- 2022 · Halo as Margaret Parangosky
- 2021 · The Empire as Aisan Daulat Begum
- 2021 · Sheer Qorma as Ammi
- 2020 · Kaali Khuhi as Satya Maasi
- 2020 · Letter From Your Far-Off Country as Self (archive footage)
- 2018 · Aunty Ji as Parvin
- 2018 · Next of Kin as Mrs. Shirani
- 2018 · Kaifinama as
- 2017 · The Black Prince as Rani Jindan
- 2017 · The Wishing Tree as The Gypsy Woman
- 2017 · Sonata as Dolon
- 2017 · Signature Move as Parveen
- 2016 · Neerja as Rama Bhanot
- 2016 · Chalk N Duster as Vidya Sawant
- 2015 · Capital as Mrs. Kamal
- 2015 · Jazbaa as
- 2015 · Bollywood and Beyond: A Century of Indian Cinema as Self
- 2014 · A Decent Arrangement as Preeti
- 2013 · The Reluctant Fundamentalist as Ammi
- 2013 · Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola as Chaudhari Devi
- 2012 · Midnight's Children as Naseem
- 2012 · 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 · Dus Kahaniyaan as
- 2007 · Om Shanti Om as Self
- 2007 · Positive as
- 2007 · Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. as Naheed
- 2007 · Loins of Punjab Presents as Rrita Kapoor
- 2006 · Umrao Jaan as Khanum Jaan
- 2006 · Banglatown Banquet as Sofia
- 2006 · 15 Park Avenue as Prof. Anjali "Anu" Mathur
- 2004 · Koffee with Karan as Self
- 2004 · Morning Raga as Swarnalata
- 2004 · Indian Idol as Self
- 2003 · Tehzeeb as Rukhsana Jamal
- 2002 · Makdee as Makdee
- 2002 · Devi Ahilya Bai as
- 2001 · Meghla Akash as
- 2001 · Daughters of This Century as Kadambini
- 2000 · Gaja Gamini as Premchand's Nirmala
- 2000 · Hari-Bhari as Ghazala
- 1999 · Godmother as Rambhi
- 1998 · Side Streets as Mrs. Chandra Bipin Raj
- 1998 · Bada Din as
- 1997 · Fire as Radha
- 1997 · Mrityudand as Chandravati
- 1997 · Saaz as Bansidhar (Bansi) Vrundavan
- 1994 · In Custody as Imtiaz Begum
- 1993 · Son of the Pink Panther as Queen
- 1993 · The Kite as Jitni
- 1992 · Immaculate Conception as Samira
- 1992 · City of Joy as Kamla H. Pal
- 1991 · Jhoothi Shaan as Krishna
- 1991 · Dharavi as Kumud
- 1991 · Fateh as
- 1990 · Amba as Amba Bhanupratap Singh
- 1990 · Disha as
- 1990 · Death of a Doctor as Seema
- 1989 · Main Azaad Hoon as Subhashini Saigal
- 1989 · Sati as Uma
- 1989 · Suddenly, One Day as Neeta Roy
- 1989 · Oonch Neech Beech as Tulsi
- 1989 · Picnic as
- 1989 · Rakhwala as
- 1988 · The Bengali Night as Indira Sen
- 1988 · Madame Sousatzka as Sushila Sen
- 1988 · Pestonjee as Jeroo
- 1988 · Mardon Wali Baat as
- 1988 · The Discovery of India as Rangamma
- 1988 · Libaas as Seema
- 1987 · Susman (The Essence) as
- 1986 · Ek Pal as Priyam
- 1986 · Nasihat as Sunita
- 1986 · Genesis as The woman
- 1986 · Anjuman as Anjuman
- 1986 · Khamosh as Shabana Azmi
- 1986 · Shart as Kiran Dutt
- 1986 · Samay Ki Dhaara as Madhvi A. Verma
- 1984 · Bhavna as Bhavna Saxena
- 1984 · Gangvaa as Jamuna
- 1984 · The Crossing as Rama
- 1984 · Kamla as Sarita Jadhav
- 1984 · The Ruins as Jamini
- 1984 · Lorie as Geeta Malhotra
- 1984 · Hum Rahe Na Hum as Mohini P. Sahani
- 1984 · Yaadon Ki Zanjeer as Manju
- 1983 · Doosri Dulhan as Chanda
- 1983 · Sweekar Kiya Maine as Gopika Sharma / Gopika K. Shukla
- 1983 · Avtaar as
- 1983 · Mandi as Rukmini Bai
- 1983 · Masoom as Indu D. Malhotra
- 1982 · Raaste Pyar Ke as Shyama
- 1982 · Anokha Bandhan as Annapurna (Anu)
- 1982 · Arth as Pooja
- 1982 · Yeh Nazdeekiyan as Shobna
- 1982 · Ashanti as Kamini
- 1982 · Namkeen as
- 1982 · Suraag as
- 1982 · Log Kya Kahenge as Roma
- 1981 · Shama as
- 1981 · Ek Hi Bhool as Meenakshi
- 1981 · Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai as Stella
- 1981 · Sameera as
- 1980 · Jwalamukhi as Kiran
- 1980 · Hum Paanch as Sundariya
- 1980 · Ek Baar Kaho as Aarti Mathur
- 1980 · Apne Paraye as Sheila
- 1980 · Yeh Kaisa Insaf? as Madhu R. Nath
- 1980 · Thodisi Bewafaii as
- 1980 · Sparsh as Kavita
- 1979 · Lahu Ke Do Rang as Roma
- 1979 · Jeena Yahan as Lekha
- 1979 · Kaifi Azmi as (Herself)
- 1979 · Amar Deep as
- 1978 · Junoon as Firdaus (Javed's wife)
- 1978 · Devata as
- 1978 · Atithee as Leela M. Kumar / Julie
- 1978 · Khoon Ki Pukaar as
- 1978 · Kissaa Kursee Kaa as Janata
- 1978 · Toote Khilone as
- 1978 · Swarg Narak as Geeta
- 1977 · Parvarish as Shabu
- 1977 · The Chess Players as Khurshid
- 1977 · Amar Akbar Anthony as Laxmi
- 1977 · Hira Aur Patthar as Gauri
- 1977 · Karm as Neelam Kumar
- 1977 · Khel Khilari Ka as Rachna
- 1977 · Chor Sipahee as Priya
- 1977 · Vishwasghaat as Seema
- 1977 · Jallian Wala Bagh as
- 1977 · Swami as Saudamini
- 1977 · Adha Din Adhi Raat as Radha / Babli
- 1977 · Kanneshwara Rama as Malli
- 1976 · Shaque as
- 1976 · Fakira as Neeta / Geeta
- 1976 · Kadambari as Chetna
- 1975 · Nishant as Sushila
- 1974 · Ishk Ishk Ishk as Pammy
- 1974 · Ankur: The Seedling as Laxmi
- 1974 · Faslah as Asha Premchand
- 1973 · Masoom as
- Future · USA v Raj as Pammi Bothra
- 1974 · Parinay as Rekha
- 1973 · Munshi Ji as
- Future · Masoom 2 as
- Future · Masoom: The New Generation as
- Future · Imaginary Rain as