All posts tagged: Shabana Azmi

Have you heard? Tamannaah Bhatia calls Sidharth Malhotra heartthrob; Anupam Kher visits DDLJ station

Have you heard? Tamannaah Bhatia calls Sidharth Malhotra heartthrob; Anupam Kher visits DDLJ station

Published by Webster

City heartthrobs At the Mumbai Comic Con 2026, Tamannaah Bhatia and Sidharth Malhotra promoted their upcoming film, ‘Vvan: Force of the Forest’. On the stage, Tamannaah praised her co-star Sid, by saying, “I think he is India’s heartthrob. I cannot tell you the number of friends and friends’ nieces who called me, excited that I was working with Sid.” Sidharth, meanwhile, waved and interacted warmly with fans. The film, helmed by Deepak Kumar Mishra of ‘Panchayat’ fame, releases in cinemas on August 28. Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

‘We have to strengthen our sisterhood’

‘We have to strengthen our sisterhood’

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Imagine a room full of feminine energy, with talks around work, literature, culture, and what not! That’s exactly what Dia Mirza Rekhi’s soirée on May 2 looked like. The actor hosted a do, which saw almost 40 women actors, directors, and technicians in attendance — including Shabana Azmi, Ratna Pathak Shah, Taapsee Pannu, Zoya Akhtar, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Prajakta Koli, and designer Anita Dongre. Mirza’s guest list was a mix of old friends and new. “While we have a [core] group of nine women, it always gets extended beyond that. I have learnt it from Shabanaji, who always encourages women. She is the glue holding us,” smiled Mirza.  Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

Richa Chadha questions why commercial actors are cast for indie films

Richa Chadha questions why commercial actors are cast for indie films

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Actor-producer Richa Chadha has questioned why independent filmmakers continue to cast “commercial” actors who, she says, bring neither box-office pull to stories that don’t need such faces nor festival credibility to benefit the indie film. “If an actor isn’t opening a film theatrically for you on a Friday and doesn’t add any real weight at festivals either, then what exactly is the advantage of casting them in an independent film?” Richa said in a statement. Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

Aparna Sen says she regrets turning down Shyam Benegal for Ankur: ‘We got an actress of Shabana Azmi’s calibre’

Aparna Sen says she regrets turning down Shyam Benegal for Ankur: ‘We got an actress of Shabana Azmi’s calibre’

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Shyam Benegal was a representative voice of the parallel cinema movement that ushered in new aesthetics in the 1970s. His first film, Ankur, received widespread acclaim and marked the acting debut of Shabana Azmi. But did you know that Shabana was not the first choice for the film? Shyam had first offered the film to acclaimed actor Aparna Sen, but she had turned it down. In a new conversation with Straight up with Shree, Aparna revealed why. Aparna Sen shared why she said no to Ankur, which later went to Shabana Azmi. What Aparna said The veteran writer-director shared that her Hindi films were ‘thundering flops’ and she never made those films to become a mainstream heroine. She said, “I was asked and I did it. The money was tempting. I think I needed the money for something or the other and unfortunately the choices that I made were very wrong. The choices in Bengal were very well-made but for Hindi films it was not well made. The films which I didn’t make which I …

Shabana Azmi Says Item Songs Make Her Uncomfortable

Shabana Azmi Says Item Songs Make Her Uncomfortable

Published by Parlour News

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi has shared her thoughts on the prevalence of item songs in Bollywood, saying that they often make her uncomfortable due to the way women are portrayed and how suggestive lyrics have become normalised in popular culture. Speaking in a recent interaction, Azmi pointed out that such songs are widely enjoyed, but their deeper implications are rarely discussed. Referring to the popular track “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” from the 1993 film Khal Nayak, Azmi noted that the song continues to be sung widely, even by children. She said this is what particularly troubles her, as many young people repeat the lyrics without fully understanding their meaning. According to the actor, this reflects how certain forms of entertainment become so embedded in everyday culture that people stop questioning what they are actually saying or representing. Azmi also highlighted how item numbers often rely heavily on the “male gaze,” where women are presented primarily as objects of visual attraction. She explained that such portrayals can strip female characters of agency and reduce them …

Shabana Azmi says some of the lyrics in item numbers make her ‘extremely uncomfortable’: ‘She is objectifying herself’

Shabana Azmi says some of the lyrics in item numbers make her ‘extremely uncomfortable’: ‘She is objectifying herself’

Published by Webster

Actor Shabana Azmi has been vocal about the many issues that plague the film industry. Over the years, she has spoken on issues such as women’s rights and the rights of marginalised communities. The award-winning actor was a speaker at the We the Women event held in Mumbai, where she shared her thoughts on the impact of item numbers in films. Item numbers generally feature female actors dancing on energetic beats and often contain sensual imagery. (Also read: Ayesha Khan says it became a ‘national joke’ after she shared that she shot Dhurandhar song Shararat during her period) Shabana Azmi said she has a ‘very big problem’ with item numbers in films. (PTI Photo)(PTI03_03_2026_000024B) (PTI) What Shabana said Talking about item numbers, Shabana said, “Cinema is defined by the image. So when you have disconnected images, like for example, a heaving bosom, or shaking navel, you cut them into fragments and how the camera moves around the body is what decides what the intention of the director is. I feel in an item number, a …

Shabana Azmi praises Zoya Akhtar for not objectifying Katrina Kaif: ‘She came out in bikini, but camera showed her only when…’ | Bollywood News

Shabana Azmi praises Zoya Akhtar for not objectifying Katrina Kaif: ‘She came out in bikini, but camera showed her only when…’ | Bollywood News

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4 min readKochiMar 3, 2026 05:19 PM IST Aside from being legendary figures in their respective artistic domains, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi are also highly political individuals who never mince words when voicing their opinions on what they deem right. Recently, Shabana, a proud feminist, admitted that she regrets starring in the romantic drama Thodisi Bewafaii (1980), even though she had as significant a role as Rajesh Khanna in it, because the film treated women as “secondary” and featured a highly misogynistic dialogue. The five-time National Award-winning actor also maintained that ever since she realised the movie’s undertones, she has made conscious efforts not to take on such projects. Javed, meanwhile, added to the discussion by stating that nobody would write such a line now. “There will be other things, yes. But this exact dialogue (Sasural ke ghar ka dukh bhi, maike ke sukh se achha lagta hai) won’t appear in a movie today. The template of sexism has changed because society has changed,” he pointed out during a conversation with Mojo Story. Also …

Bridging Nations: Ricky Kej on spending 3 days with French President Macron during latter’s visit to India

Bridging Nations: Ricky Kej on spending 3 days with French President Macron during latter’s visit to India

Published by Parlour News

Indian musical composer, environmentalist and three-time Grammy Award winner, Ricky Kej shares an insight about the 3 days he spent with French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron during their visit to India this month: Ricky Kej with French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron As the wheels of the French Presidential Plane lifted off, carrying the leader of one of the world’s most powerful nations, I found myself aboard, for an unforgettable journey with President Emmanuel Macron. The unexpected delight was not just the destination, but the company – a world leader revered for his leadership, humility, generosity, and unassuming cool, making this an experience that will linger forever. I first met President Emmanuel Macron of France in July 2023 when he invited me for the state dinner hosted in honor of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Louvre Museum. I was in France performing at the Namaste France festival, a cultural extravaganza showcasing India’s rich heritage and contemporary flair to international audiences. At the state dinner, I was …

Kareena Kapoor shares a surprise hug with Shabana Azmi, says ‘I won’t leave you alone’ at Mumbai event

Kareena Kapoor shares a surprise hug with Shabana Azmi, says ‘I won’t leave you alone’ at Mumbai event

Published by Parlour News

A gracious moment between Kareena Kapoor and Shabana Azmi unfolded at a recent Mumbai industry gathering, which also featured Karan Johar, Vicky Kaushal, Ishaan Khatter, and Imtiaz Ali. The interaction was simple and unassuming, but it reflected warmth and mutual respect. Kareena Kapoor and Shabana Azmi shared a heartwarming moment at a recent Mumbai event. Kareena surprises Shabana with a hug For the evening, Kareena looked stunning in a maroon off-the-shoulder, floor-length gown, styled with statement jewellery and classic makeup. Shabana exuded elegance in a pink sari paired with a contrasting blue blouse, keeping her look graceful. In the clip, Kareena notices that Shabana is waiting for her car. Concerned, she walked up to her, gave her a warm hug. She asked about the delay and said, “I won’t leave you alone.” The two spoke briefly as they waited together. However, Kareena was soon informed that her own car was blocking traffic outside the venue. Before stepping away, she once again checked whether Shabana would be comfortable on her own, then left to ease traffic. …

Internet is disappointed after Farah Khan’s cook Dilip constantly interrupts Shabana Azmi: ‘So irritating’

Internet is disappointed after Farah Khan’s cook Dilip constantly interrupts Shabana Azmi: ‘So irritating’

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Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan’s cook, Dilip, has become a celebrity in his own right since she featured him in her vlogs and cooking videos. The latest video on her YouTube channel featured Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, as they showed their beautiful house in Khandala. However, many on the internet were not impressed with Dilip’s ‘overacting’ and ‘constant interruptions’ in the video and reacted in the comments. Shabana Azmi and Farah Khan with Dilip in the video. Dilip interuppts Shabana Azmi At one point in the video, when Farah and Shabana sit down for a chat, Dilip comes in between and says, ‘Irshad, irshad!’ Farah jokingly tells him to go cook in the kitchen. Moments later, when Shabana begins to share how the huge trees inside the property are around 150 years old, Dilip interrupts again. He comes in and says, “Ma’am, apse bhi puraane hai (Farah ma’am, they are older than you too)!” How the internet reacted Viewers were not impressed with the constant jokes and interruptions when the guest was speaking. Many in the …