Photo: Simon Fraser University - University Communications / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Shabana Azmi is a film actor, stage actor and singer, born on September 18, 1950 in Azamgarh, Azamgarh district, India. As of 2026, Shabana Azmi is 75 years old. Schooling on record includes St. Xavier's College. Awards on record include Padma Bhushan (2012), Padma Shri in arts (1988), Gandhi International Peace Award and 4 more. Notable works include Ankur, Amar Akbar Anthony and Swami.
My Take
Azmi is, to me, the conscience of Indian cinema. Choosing parallel and neorealist work over easy commercial stardom, then sustaining it across 160-plus films, is a kind of artistic integrity you rarely see anywhere. What moves me most is that she never separated the actor from the citizen; the same person who delivered the searing realism of Ankur and Arth has spent decades using her platform for social conscience. The Padma Bhushan and lifetime honors feel almost incidental next to that consistency. She makes the case that craft and convictions can reinforce, rather than dilute, one another.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Shabana Azmi
- Name (Japanese)
- シャバーナー・アーズミー
- Reading
- しゃばーなー・あーずみー
- Born
- September 18, 1950 (age 75)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Tiger
- Origin
- Azamgarh, Azamgarh district, India
- Occupation
- film actor / stage actor / singer / public figure / politician
2. Background
- University
- St. Xavier's College
Awards & achievements
- 2012 Padma Bhushan
- 1988 Padma Shri in arts
- Gandhi International Peace Award
- National Film Award for Best Actress
- 2006 Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
- Filmfare Award for Best Actress
- IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Ankur | — | |
| Notable work | Amar Akbar Anthony | — | |
| Notable work | Swami | — | |
| Notable work | Arth | — | |
| Notable work | Masoom | — | |
| Notable work | Libaas | — |
4. Links
- Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/azmishabana18/
- Xhttps://x.com/AzmiShabana
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabana%20Azmi
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A3%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8A%E3%83%BC%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BA%E3%83%9F%E3%83%BC
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q465863
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-16
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Shabana Azmi born?
Born September 18, 1950 (age 75).
Where is Shabana Azmi from?
Shabana Azmi is from Azamgarh, Azamgarh district, India.
What does Shabana Azmi do?
Shabana Azmi works as film actor, stage actor, singer, public figure, politician.
What is Shabana Azmi known for?
Notable works include Ankur, Amar Akbar Anthony, Swami.
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