Exclusive - Shabana Azmi talks about the evolution of Bollywood, says 'Alia Bhatt is doing substantial work even after...'

Shabana Azmi exclusive interview with Moneycontrol.com

Shabana Azmi, a legendary figure in the Indian film industry, has been captivating audiences with her powerful performances for decades.

In this insightful interview with Money Control, she spoke about her long and illustrious career, offering a glimpse into her personal and professional life.

Shabana shared her thoughts on working with younger filmmakers, the challenges and joys of her role in Dabba Cartel, and the evolving landscape for women in cinema.

She also discussed her relationship with her family, including her husband Javed Akhtar, son Farhan Akhtar, and daughter-in-law Shibani Dandekar, highlighting the importance of mutual respect and support in both personal and professional realms.

Excerpts from the interview:Q: You've been working in this industry for so many years now. Is there a dream role that you still want to do, or is there any actor you still want to work with?

Shabana Azmi: Aisa kuch nahi hai. I have a family of film people—I’ll catch my husband and say, "Make this script," and I’ll tell my son to produce it and my daughter to direct it. But I want to work with all the younger filmmakers.

Q: Your role of Baa in Dabba Cartel reminded us of many of the powerful roles you have done before. How was it? Did you find it challenging, or did you enjoy doing it?

Shabana Azmi: Of course! As I was discovering na, I was enjoying it. I think the power is more muted, and the gravitas comes from the looks rather than the presence. So that is different from all the roles where I have created power for hours. My husband always tells me, "Zyada therav se mat chalo." Mujhe laga tha ki iss character ko zyada therav se karna hai, but I enjoyed it very much and and looking forward to the second season.

Q: You've always championed women-centric narratives. What advice would you like to give to younger actresses who are evolving?

Shabana Azmi: They are doing very well because they are already within mainstream cinema and are getting roles where they are more than just the pretty girl. That change wasn’t there during our time—you could either do just pretty roles or something substantial. But now, people like Alia [Bhatt] are doing substantial work even after getting married and having a baby. So well, all that is very noteworthy, and clearly, things are changing. I’m happy for the change.

Q: You and Javed Akhtar sir are one of the most celebrated couples in the industry. How do you separate professional and personal life when working and going home?

Shabana Azmi: We are aware of it—it can’t be taken away from us. But we are not always working; we do separate kinds of work. It helps when you are married to an artist because there’s an understanding. If I was married to a doctor or an engineer, it would have been a completely different lifestyle. That person would have found it difficult to get into my lifestyle, and I would have found it difficult to adjust to theirs. But when both are artists, you learn to make these adjustments.

Q: How would you describe your relationship with your son, Farhan Akhtar, and daughter-in-law, Shibani Dandekar, especially after working with them in Dabba Cartel?

Shabana Azmi: It has always been very good. We’ve been friends. What I really appreciate about Shibani is that, although she was the producer’s wife, she never asked for any special favours. She was just one of the gang—a great trooper. That’s very special. Shuru mein sab logon ko lagta tha, "Arre, Sethani aagayi, Sethani aagayi," but she worked very hard to cut that down and make herself one of us, which was very important. So, I have a very healthy and happy relationship with them—we are friends more than anything else.

Q: How do you view the current state of the senior citizens’ care industry in India? Do you think AGEasy is meeting the evolving needs of this rapidly growing sector?

Shabana Azmi: I think AGEasy is doing remarkable work. They have four verticals and are looking at elder care from a holistic point of view. I really support that because I was a caregiver for my parents, and now, both my husband and I are aging. I realize that while we may not need it immediately, very soon, we will. What AGEasy is doing makes independent and self-sufficient living possible to a great extent. Inevitably, you will have a fall, your legs will become less stable, your memory will fade—these are all part of aging. There’s nothing you can do about the process except to make it easier to accept, and I think AGEasy is working towards that.

Q: Do you and your family take advice from each other when it comes to your work?

Shabana Azmi: Yes, yes! When Farhan and Zoya were very young, Fire was offered to me. When I told them about it, they asked, "So?" I said, "You know, it’s a controversial film." They replied, "What’s controversial? Do you like the script or not?" I said, "Yeah, of course, I like the script." "Then do it!" That changed my perspective. Hum log jis considerations se dekh rahe the, woh considerations in bachhon ki generation mein nahi hai. That’s why I say, jaise families mein hota hai, waise hi hai.