Shabana Azmi and Tabu come together for a book

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.

Tabu to share screen space with Aamir Khan

There can’t be a bigger casting coup at least cinematically. Yes, you read it right, Aamir Khan and Tabu will share screen space in Priyadarshan’s next flick, which will be based on AIDS.

Priyadarshan has approached Tabu for the flick after signing Aamir for the same. Tabu, who has previously worked with Priyadarshan in ‘Virasat’ is said to be more than interested in the project.

Talking about the film, Priyadarshan said, “I wanted to make this film a year back. But I wanted to see the reaction to my other realistic film ‘Kanchivaram’. Now I know my audience is as open to watching my more realistic films as my comedies”.

The director is presently involved in extensive research for the film, since the project is said to be an extensive insight into the social stigma attached to the disease.

The talented duo, Aamir and Tabu had starred together in Yash Chopra’s ‘Fanaa’, but weren’t paired opposite each other and this will be the first time that they’ll get to work together extensively.

Search for Tabu and Amitabh Bachchan

Its very common to hear stories about Bollywood actresses trying out their age desperately but not often would one come across someone who believes in doing the exact opposite. The critically acclaimed Tabu has gone ahead and done what others couldn’t even think of doing for the actress has refused to look younger than her age for the flashback scenes in- The Legend of Kunal.

Tabu who is playing the character of Tishyarakshitra, emperor Ashoka’s wife in the film, has refused to be shown younger for certain scenes and the hunt for a young Tabu is on. The character of Ashoka is played by Amitabh Bachchan.

Chandraprakash Dwivedi, the director of ‘The Legend of Kunal’ confirmed the news and said, “Tabu refused his idea by saying “Take a younger artiste to play my character’s young portion” and opted out.”

Now, Dwivedi is apparently hunting for actors who resemble the Big B and Tabu but are half their age.

Tabu graces cover of Vogue

The first cover girl of the New Year is an actress par excellence, who unfortunately didn't have a single film release in 2008. Known for her drop dead gorgeous looks and impeccable acting skills, this tall beauty is on the wish list of every filmmaker. In case you are still wondering who we talking about, let us reveal the suspense and tell you that we are talking about the one and only Tabu.

Tabu is seen gracing the cover of fashion magazine Vogue in January 2009 issue. The gorgeous actress is seen in a lovely silk dress embroidered with Swarovski stones. The issue is a must have as Tabu is caught having a free-wheeling conversation with director Homi Adajania of Being Cyrus fame. Tabu talks about everything, right from her growing up days in a haveli in Hyderabad to her making the big screen debut opposite Rishi Kapoor to what she believes are her best performances till date.

Birthday Wishes to Tabu

'Talent And Beauty Unlimited' is how aptly this pretty lady can be described, who is celebrating her birthday today. If you are still wondering as to whom we are talking about, then, to make life easier for you, let us tell you that simply picking up the initials from the above shall get you your answer! For the late-starters, we are indeed talking about the one and only Tabassum Hashmi aka 'TABU'. Having made her debut with the film Prem, Tabu only grew stronger from frame to frame.

Bagging National Awards for this lady is as equivalent to any school student buying notebooks. Such is the impact of her superlative acting on the silver screen. Films like The Namesake, Astitva, Cheeni Kum, Maqbool, Chandni Bar, Hera Pheri, Chachi 420 stand as glowing testimonials to this. Tabu has made her presence so strongly felt in Bollywood that it's almost impossible now to imagine Bollywood without this Tabu.

Here are Birthday Wishes to this talented powerhouse!
Wish you many many happy returns of the day.!!

Tabu on cover of M

Tabu is back and how. Last time she was seen romancing a man who was elder then even her father. We are indeed talking about Tabassum Fatima Hashmi. For starters, she is more popularly known as Tabu, who was last seen in Cheeni Kum in which she was paired opposite none other than the Big B. And then Madame Tabu did the vanishing act, only to resurface again, this time as the cover-girl of the popular magazine 'M'. One needs to give a hi-5 to the brains behind this issue of 'M'. Not just the cover looks exceptional, but also the inside text makes us believe that Tabu is definitely the girl next door.

In this issue, Tabu talks about 'The early years', whereby she was always a big child - very chubby and over weight. Guess how many of you knew that. Frankly speaking, we just did not. Moving ahead, Tabu also speaks about the transition from being normal girl till stepping into showbiz, courtesy Dev Anand spotting her and eventually casting her too in his film. We tell you readers that simply dig into this issue, if you want to really dig into Tabu's life.

This issue also carries her thoughts on winning her first National Award, having more male friends than females, on her being a private person etc.

Media should publish better pictures of me, says Tabu

Tabu on her Telugu film, the item number she would like to do, her desire to act as a waitress and reluctance to promote her films. No, she will not talk about her lunch with Uma Thurman.

You are back to your vanishing acts, avoiding the media and making minimal public appearances?
I'm bored of this question.

How was the lunch that Uma Thurman hosted for The Namesake cast in New York?
That lunch has been over-hyped. Ask Irrfan Khan.He'll give a more interesting answer.

So, is this going to be one of those interviews again?(Laughs) You tell me? Ok, let's start again, shall we?
After last year's double whammy of Cheeni Kum and The Namesake, you have signed a Telugu film Idi Sangati.

How do you explain that?
I can't sit at home and wait for something big to come my way. I had to choose from what was offered to me and Idi Sangati made sense. The director waited for two-and-a-half years to make the film with me. Also, it's a comedy-a genre I've wanted to do for a long time.

Isn't doing a regional film after The Namesake, which took you to a global audience, a bit unsettling?
I started out with Telugu films and shooting in Hyderabad suits me. Since I'm not a cosmopolitan city-bred girl, doing a regional film is not really a departure for me. I can relate to it. That's why I've signed another Telugu film, Panduranga, directed by my guru, K Raghavendra Rao. I'm really excited about it since I play a Devdasi-something I've never attempted before-in it. I didn't plan for this big project though. Like everything else, this too just fell in my lap.

So, you never plan?
Never. Planning doesn't suit my temperament. I act on instinct when I am offered a film.

What is your most important selection criterion for doing a film?
Personal comfort. I've become choosy about the people I work with.

Why are you so reluctant to promote your films?
I feel fake saying all those good things about a film. I can't do that unless I really believe in a film.
Which was the one film you really believed in and liked promoting?
(Thinks hard) Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities. I enjoyed doing every shot of the film. It was like a treat.Recently, there were reports of you doing Deepak Tijori's film in English, Zoya Akhtar's untitled project opposite Farhan Akhtar and Shoojit Sircar's Shoebite starring Amitabh Bachchan. But you have denied that you are working on these films.(Sighs) The directors and I were only in the process of talking about whether or not to do the films. I was never doing them. I hope to find better ways to deal with such reports. So far, the only way I've dealt with them is detaching myself from them so that they don't occupy my mindspace.To be honest, I'm unable to cope with the media's intrusion in our lives. I can't handle "who wore what, who ate what, who said what"kind of reportage. I tell myself to ignore it. Even denying such news would give it undeserved importance. I have just two requests. I wish the directors refrain from announcing that I am doing their film until I sign the contract and that the media publishes better pictures of me.

Fair enough. So what's the deal with this sensuous dance number that you've done in Idi Sangati?
(Shocked) Where did that come from? It's not even a dance. It's just a slow, sensuous song.

Ever want to do an item song?
Oh, yeah. Why not? It'll be great. There won't be any onus on me in that case. I'll go as a guest on the sets and have fun.

At the Star Screen awards, you said Amitabh Bachchan made you look good in Cheeni Kum. Do you really think so?
Of course. It was unusual for the two of us to be cast together, that too in a romance. If we were to do another film together, the script would have to suit both of us.

Do you feel bogged down by the heavy roles that filmmakers offer you?
That's the disadvantage of being stereotyped. On the one hand, it's good to have a type for yourself and then it's up to you to continue with it or not. If people feel I can do heavy and emotional roles well, then I must be convincing. But it has nothing to do with who I am as a person. Maybe, my face or appearance suits such roles. Physicality is the first thing a viewer notices while judging an actor's performance. But all this doesn't bog me down. I know I'll do a role only if I want to. Otherwise, I say no.

What is that one role that you really want to do?
A waitress in an American diner kind of setting. I like those characters.

Any plans of directing a film?
Maybe. I don't know. Not for the next five years though. If I have a story to tell or even one line that I want the audience to know, I'll do it.