Mahesh Bhatt on Shabana Azmi at 75. The esteemed director and producer reflects on a journey that began with Arth and celebrates the woman whose generosity and artistry remains unmatched – As told to Subhash K Jha.
The Conscience of Indian Cinema: Shabana at 75
How do you begin to tell the story of a girl who became the heartbeat of India’s parallel cinema? Shyam Benegal, one of our greatest filmmakers, discovered her. She was born into the home of Kaifi Azmi and Shaukat Azmi, where poetry and theatre were daily bread, and where legends like Saeed Jaffrey often walked through the door. She was shaped further at the Film and Television Institute of India, where craft met conviction. From there, Shabana Azmi walked straight into history.
I do not think of age when I think of Shabana. I think of a young woman whose eyes could silence a hall full of people. I remember Metro Cinema in Bombay, with its 1100-plus seats, and that unforgettable song from Arth — ‘Koi Yeh Kaise Bataye’. My DOP, Pravin Bhatt, lit her in such a way that her gaze spoke louder than the lyrics. It pierced through the darkness of the theater, and every heart in that hall heard it. That gaze still lingers in the consciousness of the nation.
But Arth was not just a film. It was a rebirth for me. Without Arth, where would I be? Without Shabana and me, where would Arth be? What sets Shabana apart is not only her staggering talent but her generosity. In an industry often consumed by rivalry, she went out of her way to lift others. She would bring clothes from her own wardrobe to dress Smita Patil — her so-called competitor — because she believed in the dignity of the scene above all else. Generosity is the hallmark of a great artist, and Shabana has it in abundance.
At 75, she remains a reservoir of untapped emotions, an ocean still roaring beneath the surface. It is not she who needs to prove herself anymore — it is we, as filmmakers, who must dare to tap into that vast pool of talent. Happy Birthday, Shabana. You are not just an actress. You are the conscience of Indian cinema. You are, and will always remain, a national treasure.
