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

Halo Not in library

Halo

2022

Om Shanti Om Not in library

Om Shanti Om

2007

Son of the Pink Panther Not in library

Son of the Pink Panther

1993

Neerja Not in library

Neerja

2016

What's Love Got to Do with It? Not in library

What's Love Got to Do with It?

2023

The Reluctant Fundamentalist Not in library

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

2013

City of Joy Not in library

City of Joy

1992

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani Not in library

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

2023

Amar Akbar Anthony Not in library

Amar Akbar Anthony

1977

Luck by Chance Not in library

Luck by Chance

2009

Acting

2026 Lahore 1947 as Mai
2025 Bun Tikki
2025 Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen
2025 Dabba Cartel as Sheila (7 episodes) In Library
2024 Angry Young Men as Self (3 episodes)
2023 Ghoomer as Anina's Grandmother
2023 Good Morning Sunshine
2023 What's Love Got to Do with It? as Aisha Khan
2023 Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as Jamini Chatterji
2022 The Master: Shyam Benegal as Herself
2022 Halo as Margaret Parangosky (17 episodes)
2021 Sheer Qorma as Ammi
2021 The Empire as Aisan Daulat Begum (8 episodes)
2020 Letter From Your Far-Off Country as Self (archive footage)
2020 Kaali Khuhi as Satya Maasi
2018 Aunty Ji as Parvin
2018 Kaifinama
2018 Next of Kin as Mrs. Shirani (6 episodes)
2017 Signature Move as Parveen
2017 The Wishing Tree as The Gypsy Woman
2017 The Black Prince as Rani Jindan
2017 Sonata as Dolon
2016 Chalk N Duster as Vidya Sawant
2016 Neerja as Rama Bhanot
2015 Jazbaa
2015 Bollywood and Beyond: A Century of Indian Cinema as Self
2015 Capital as Mrs. Kamal (3 episodes)
2014 A Decent Arrangement as Preeti
2013 Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola as Chaudhari Devi
2013 The Reluctant Fundamentalist as Ammi
2012 Celluloid Man as Self
2012 Midnight's Children as Naseem
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 Loins of Punjab Presents as Rrita Kapoor
2007 Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. as Naheed
2007 Positive
2007 Dus Kahaniyaan
2007 Om Shanti Om as Self
2006 15 Park Avenue as Prof. Anjali "Anu" Mathur
2006 Umrao Jaan as Khanum Jaan
2006 Banglatown Banquet as Sofia
2004 Morning Raga as Swarnalata
2004 Koffee with Karan as Self (2 episodes)
2004 Indian Idol as Self (1 episode) In Library
2003 Tehzeeb as Rukhsana Jamal
2002 Makdee as Makdee
2002 Devi Ahilya Bai
2001 Daughters of This Century as Kadambini
2001 Meghla Akash
2000 Hari-Bhari as Ghazala
2000 Gaja Gamini as Premchand's Nirmala
1999 Godmother as Rambhi
1998 Side Streets as Mrs. Chandra Bipin Raj
1998 Bada Din
1997 Fire as Radha
1997 Saaz as Bansidhar (Bansi) Vrundavan
1997 Mrityudand as Chandravati
1994 In Custody as Imtiaz Begum
1993 Son of the Pink Panther as Queen
1993 The Kite as Jitni
1992 City of Joy as Kamla H. Pal
1992 Immaculate Conception as Samira
1991 Dharavi as Kumud
1991 Jhoothi Shaan as Krishna
1991 Fateh
1990 Amba as Amba Bhanupratap Singh
1990 Death of a Doctor as Seema
1990 Disha
1989 Suddenly, One Day as Neeta Roy
1989 Picnic
1989 Sati as Uma
1989 Main Azaad Hoon as Subhashini Saigal
1989 Rakhwala
1989 Oonch Neech Beech as Tulsi
1988 Madame Sousatzka as Sushila Sen
1988 Pestonjee as Jeroo
1988 Libaas as Seema
1988 The Bengali Night as Indira Sen
1988 Mardon Wali Baat
1988 The Discovery of India as Rangamma (3 episodes)
1987 Susman (The Essence)
1986 Khamosh as Shabana Azmi
1986 Nasihat as Sunita
1986 Samay Ki Dhaara as Madhvi A. Verma
1986 Ek Pal as Priyam
1986 Anjuman as Anjuman
1986 Genesis as The woman
1986 Shart as Kiran Dutt
1984 The Crossing as Rama
1984 Gangvaa as Jamuna
1984 The Ruins as Jamini
1984 Hum Rahe Na Hum as Mohini P. Sahani
1984 Kamla as Sarita Jadhav
1984 Yaadon Ki Zanjeer as Manju
1984 Lorie as Geeta Malhotra
1984 Bhavna as Bhavna Saxena
1983 Masoom as Indu D. Malhotra
1983 Doosri Dulhan as Chanda
1983 Mandi as Rukmini Bai
1983 Sweekar Kiya Maine as Gopika Sharma / Gopika K. Shukla
1983 Avtaar
1982 Arth as Pooja
1982 Suraag
1982 Yeh Nazdeekiyan as Shobna
1982 Raaste Pyar Ke as Shyama
1982 Namkeen
1982 Log Kya Kahenge as Roma
1982 Anokha Bandhan as Annapurna (Anu)
1982 Ashanti as Kamini
1981 Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai as Stella
1981 Sameera
1981 Ek Hi Bhool as Meenakshi
1981 Shama
1980 Apne Paraye as Sheila
1980 Jwalamukhi as Kiran
1980 Sparsh as Kavita
1980 Yeh Kaisa Insaf? as Madhu R. Nath
1980 Hum Paanch as Sundariya
1980 Ek Baar Kaho as Aarti Mathur
1980 Thodisi Bewafaii
1979 Lahu Ke Do Rang as Roma
1979 Jeena Yahan as Lekha
1979 Amar Deep
1979 Kaifi Azmi as (Herself)
1978 Swarg Narak as Geeta
1978 Junoon as Firdaus (Javed's wife)
1978 Toote Khilone
1978 Atithee as Leela M. Kumar / Julie
1978 Devata
1978 Khoon Ki Pukaar
1978 Kissaa Kursee Kaa as Janata
1977 Amar Akbar Anthony as Laxmi
1977 Karm as Neelam Kumar
1977 Parvarish as Shabu
1977 Adha Din Adhi Raat as Radha / Babli
1977 The Chess Players as Khurshid
1977 Swami as Saudamini
1977 Kanneshwara Rama as Malli
1977 Khel Khilari Ka as Rachna
1977 Chor Sipahee as Priya
1977 Hira Aur Patthar as Gauri
1977 Jallian Wala Bagh
1977 Vishwasghaat as Seema
1976 Kadambari as Chetna
1976 Fakira as Neeta / Geeta
1976 Shaque
1975 Nishant as Sushila
1974 Parinay as Rekha
1974 Faslah as Asha Premchand
1974 Ankur: The Seedling as Laxmi
1974 Ishk Ishk Ishk as Pammy
1973 Munshi Ji
1973 Masoom
Masoom 2
Awarapan 2
USA v Raj as Pammi Bothra
Imaginary Rain

Sound

1984 The Crossing Playback Singer