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Actor
Shabana Azmi
Active Hindi Cinema (Bollywood), Indian Parallel Cinema, International Film & Television, and Theatre
- FromHyderabad, Hyderabad State, India
- Based inMumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Age76 years
- Active1974–Present
- Updated
Shabana Azmi – Biography
Shabana Azmi – Full Information
- Full Name: Shabana Kaifi Azmi
- Popular Name: Shabana Azmi
- Nickname: Shabana
- Profession: Actress, Social Activist, Former Member of Parliament
- Known For: Landmark portrayals in parallel and mainstream Indian cinema including Ankur (1974), Arth (1982), Khandhar (1984), Paar (1984), Godmother (1999), Fire (1996), Neerja (2016), and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023).
- Date of Birth: September 18, 1950
- Age: 76 years (as of 2026)
- Birthplace: Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, India
- Hometown: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Nationality: Indian
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo
- Current Residence: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Profession Category: Actor / Cinema and Theatre Legend
Physical Appearance
- Height: 5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
- Weight: 64 kg (141 lbs) approx.
- Eye Colour: Dark Brown
- Hair Colour: Dark Brown / Black
Family Member Name
- Father: Late Kaifi Azmi (Renowned Urdu Poet, Lyricist, and Writer)
- Mother: Late Shaukat Azmi (Acclaimed Theatre and Film Actress)
- Siblings: Baba Azmi (Brother, Cinematographer)
- Sister-in-Law: Tanvi Azmi (Actress)
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Javed Akhtar (m. 1984; Poet, Lyricist, and Screenwriter)
- Children: None (Stepmother to Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar)
Education Details
- Primary / Secondary School: Queen Mary School, Mumbai
- College / University: St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
- Qualification: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; Graduate Acting Diploma from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune
Career Highlight
| Year | Career Highlight |
| 1974 | Breakthrough screen debut as Lakshmi in Shyam Benegal’s Ankur |
| 1977 | Won first Filmfare Best Actress Award for the drama film Swami |
| 1977 | Starred in mainstream blockbuster hits Amar Akbar Anthony and Parvarish |
| 1982 | Critically acclaimed performance as Pooja Inder Malhotra in Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth |
| 1983 | Starred as Indu in Shekhar Kapur’s landmark family drama Masoom |
| 1984 | Acclaimed lead performances in Mrinal Sen’s Khandhar and Goutam Ghose’s Paar |
| 1996 | Landmark performance as Radha in Deepa Mehta’s internationally recognized film Fire |
| 1999 | Played the title lead character Rambhi in the biographical crime drama Godmother |
| 2016 | Acclaimed supporting role as Rama Bhanot in the biographical thriller Neerja |
| 2022 | Featured in Steven Spielberg’s live-action sci-fi series Halo as Admiral Margaret Parangosky |
| 2023 | Critical and commercial acclaim playing Jamini Chatterjee in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani |
Awards List
| Year | Award Name | Category | Film | Result |
| 1975 | National Film Award | Best Actress | Ankur | Won |
| 1975 | Filmfare Award | Best Actress | Ankur | Nominated |
| 1975 | Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Award | Best Actress (Hindi) | Ankur | Won |
| 1978 | Filmfare Award | Best Actress | Swami | Won |
| 1981 | Filmfare Award | Best Actress | Thodisi Bewafaii | Nominated |
| 1983 | National Film Award | Best Actress | Arth | Won |
| 1984 | National Film Award | Best Actress | Khandhar | Won |
| 1984 | Filmfare Award | Best Actress | Arth | Won |
| 1984 | Filmfare Award | Best Actress | Masoom | Nominated |
| 1984 | Filmfare Award | Best Actress | Avtaar | Nominated |
| 1984 | Filmfare Award | Best Actress | Mandi | Nominated |
| 1984 | Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Award | Best Actress (Hindi) | Paar | Won |
| 1985 | National Film Award | Best Actress | Paar | Won |
| 1985 | Filmfare Award | Best Actress | Bhavna | Won |
| 1985 | Filmfare Award | Best Actress | Sparsh | Nominated |
| 1987 | Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Award | Best Actress (Hindi) | Ek Pal | Won |
| 1993 | Pyongyang International Film Festival | Best Actress | Libaas | Won |
| 1994 | Taormina Film Fest | Best Actress | Patang | Won |
| 1996 | Chicago International Film Festival | Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress | Fire | Won |
| 1996 | LA Outfest | Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film | Fire | Won |
| 1998 | Screen Award | Best Supporting Actress | Mrityudand | Won |
| 1999 | National Film Award | Best Actress | Godmother | Won |
| 1999 | Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Award | Best Actress (Hindi) | Godmother | Won |
| 2003 | Filmfare Award | Best Villain | Makdee | Nominated |
| 2003 | Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Award | Best Supporting Actress (Hindi) | Tehzeeb | Won |
| 2004 | Filmfare Award | Best Supporting Actress | Tehzeeb | Nominated |
| 2004 | Zee Cine Award | Best Supporting Actress | Tehzeeb | Won |
| 2005 | Screen Award | Best Performance in an Indian Film in English | Morning Raga | Won |
| 2006 | Filmfare Award | Lifetime Achievement Award | None | Won |
| 2017 | Filmfare Award | Best Supporting Actress | Neerja | Won |
| 2017 | IIFA Award | Best Supporting Actress | Neerja | Won |
| 2017 | Zee Cine Award | Best Supporting Actress | Neerja | Won |
| 2024 | Filmfare Award | Best Supporting Actress | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | Won |
| 2024 | Filmfare Award | Best Supporting Actress | Ghoomer | Nominated |
At a Glance
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Awards
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Popularity Score
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Trending
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About Shabana Azmi
How many National Film Awards has Shabana Azmi won?
She holds the all-time record for the most National Film Awards for Best Actress, having won 5 times for Ankur, Arth, Khandhar, Paar, and Godmother.
What was Shabana Azmi's debut film?
She made her silver-screen debut in Shyam Benegal's acclaimed realistic drama Ankur (1974), winning the National Film Award for Best Actress for her very first film.
Who are Shabana Azmi's famous family members?
She is the daughter of legendary Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi and stage actress Shaukat Azmi, and she is married to noted poet, screenwriter, and lyricist Javed Akhtar.
Has Shabana Azmi worked in international projects?
Yes, she has starred in foreign productions such as Madame Sousatzka, City of Joy, Son of the Pink Panther, Deepa Mehta's Fire, and the Paramount+ series Halo.
What major civilian honours has Shabana Azmi received?
The Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri in 1988 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012 for her distinguished contribution to arts and cinema.
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