Shabana Azmi Hosts Intimate Screening for Brother's Film
Renowned actor Shabana Azmi recently organized a special screening for her brother Baba Azmi's upcoming film Safia/Safdar. The event brought together close friends from the film industry in a warm show of solidarity before the movie's official release.
Star-Studded Guest List
The screening attracted numerous Bollywood celebrities who came to support the project. Among the notable attendees were Tabu, Tanve Azmi, Dia Mirza, and Urmila Matondkar. Richa Chadha, Nandita Das, and Rahul Bose also graced the occasion.
Shibani and Farhan Akhtar joined the gathering alongside Zoya Akhtar, Javed Akhtar, and Honey Irani. Kabir Bedi added to the star power of the evening. The presence of these prominent figures highlighted the industry's collective backing for Baba Azmi's directorial effort.
About the Film Safia/Safdar
Shabana Azmi shared details about the film during the event. She revealed that Safia/Safdar marks Baba Azmi's second directorial venture. The movie is scheduled for release on January 16.
The film features Naseeruddin Shah, Kanwaljit Singh, and Aditi Subedi in key roles. It tells the story of a young girl who steps up to support her family after her father suffers paralysis.
Shabana noted an interesting connection regarding the cast. Aditi Subedi hails from Mijwan, the same village where Shabana runs the Mijwan Welfare Society. This NGO focuses on empowering girls through various initiatives.
Shabana Azmi's Career Reflections
In a previous conversation, Shabana Azmi discussed her approach to selecting projects across different mediums. She emphasized her love for acting in diverse formats.
"I am an actor, and I love to do everything," she stated. "People often assume I am drawn only to art cinema, but that's not true. I want to do mainstream cinema as well."
She recalled her positive experience working on Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, which brought her significant success. However, she expressed a desire for more opportunities.
"I'm greedy in a good way. I want more," she admitted. "I want to work with all kinds of filmmakers, independent as well as mainstream. I want the freedom to choose."
Impact on Women-Led Cinema
Shabana also reflected on how her early career influenced perceptions of women-led cinema. She explained that starting with art-house films immediately placed her in a respected position.
This early recognition put her alongside established actors like Hema Malini. She believes that beginning in mainstream cinema would have required much more time to achieve similar stature.
Her National Award wins played a crucial role in changing industry attitudes. Female actors began to recognize the respect and value associated with meaningful cinema. Many subsequently started exploring this creative space more actively.
The screening event successfully generated buzz for Safia/Safdar while showcasing Shabana Azmi's continued influence in Bollywood. Her support for her brother's project demonstrates strong family bonds within the film fraternity.
