Shabana Azmi and
Tabu, both are critically acclaimed actresses, but what brought them together was not a film but a book.
Tabu released the English translation of Shabana’s mother Shaukat Azmi’s biography "
Kaifi & I". So far available to readers in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi and Japanese, the English translation by Nasreen Rehman was launched recently.
When asked to release the book, Tabu unhesitatingly said, ‘yes’.
Explains Shabana, "Tabu and my mom are very close. It was important to have the book released by someone who’s familiar with the language and the cultural ethos of those times. There could be no better choice than Tabu."
When asked why the two of them had not done any movie together, Shabana replied: "It has to be something worth the while for both of us."
The book is on Shabana’s father, the legendary poet-activist-lyricist Kaifi Azmi.
About the book function, Shabana said: "It was lovely. Mum’s admirers turned up in large numbers and she was in top form."
Talk is now on to turn "Kaifi & I" into a film. The book is already on stage, with Javed Akhtar and Shabana playing Kaifi and Shaukat Azmi.
Acclaimed actress Shabana Azmi was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award yesterday. The talented actress tweeted, ‘‘Am receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award today. Am grateful and humbled.” Azmi, had made her debut in Shyam Benegal’s ‘Ankur’ in 1974 for which she got her first National Award (Best Actress). She has won 5 National Awards so far and along with Bengali screen legend Kanan Devi is the youngest recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the age of 60. In 4 decades of her career, Shabana has enthralled the audience with her powerful and captivating performances. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988 at the age of 38.
