Shabana Azmi’s illustrious career began with her Christopher Columbus Shyam Benegal’s Ankur which kickstarted her romance with immortality.
Now when Benegal turns 90, Shabana turns emotional as she says, “I wish him a very long and healthy life. He changed the face of Hindi cinema and I am so fortunate to have started my career with him. If not for him, my career would have taken a completely different trajectory if I had not started with Ankur.
She fondly sees Shyam Babu as much more than a filmmaker. “He is my mentor and guru, albeit a reluctant one. But above all the other equations that I share with him, I consider him a dear dear friend. I don’t have enough words to describe what he means to me. I value the fact that he takes the trouble to call me when he has watched a performance of mine, particularly when he hasn’t liked a performance he makes it a point to tell me where he I have gone wrong. I deeply DEEPLY value appreciate and love him for the person that he is.”
Shabana Azmi who has worked in some of Shyam Babu’s best films including the pioneering Ankur, Nishant and Mandi, brims over with warm emotions when she says, “I have always called him my reluctant guru. He has shaped my choices, sharpened my aesthetics, expanded my view of the world. So in every way he is my guru and my mentor. But he shies away from wearing that mantle and would rather I consider him a friend. Which of course, he is, as is his wife and beloved partner Nira, the strength behind Shyam.”
Shabana attributes the course of her career to Ankur. “Had my film career not started with Ankur my journey as an actor could have proved to be difficult. Had Shyamu not given me the roles he did, my talent if any, would have remained a closely guarded secret!”
It’s not just a professional director-actress relationship that the two have shared. “Shyam is my well-wisher and takes the trouble to follow my work and discuss it with me. If he doesn’t like my interpretation of a character in some film he will make it a point to let me know and we discuss it like adults. I value his analyses deeply and am very touched that he cares enough to give me his honest opinion.”
Shedding light on man behind the legend Shabana reveals, “Shyamu is also one of the most generous and warm-hearted people I know. He is very encouraging of young filmmakers and will go out of his way to connect people who can help them.He has not a single mean bone in his body!”
Shabana’s birthday wishes for Shyam Babu? “He is 90 mashallah, and raring to go! I loved his television serial Samvidhan also welcome his most recent feature films Welcome To Sajjanpur and Well Done Abba. He has reinvented himself and remains relevant to the times.”
Getting emotional, Shabana says, “He has been my mentor my guru and my friend . Shyam Benegal’s name will be written in golden letters every time the history of Indian cinema is written . I’m just returning from IFFK Trivandrum where my retrospective starts with Ankur today which remains the torch bearer for realistic films in Hindi. I am very fortunate to have worked with him in so many films. I can take many risks when Shyam is directing me because I trust he will stop me if I am going overboard. I wish him a very happy birthday and many glorious years ahead”
Ends Shabana with a characteristic flourish. “Tum jiyo Hazaro saal, Shyamu, and cast me in a film soooonest.”
