Shabana Azmi is primarily not considered a Bollywood actress,
but she has appeared in a handful of Hindi popular films including
"Amar
Akbar Anthony" [1977] and "Fakira" [1976].
What Shabana Azmi happens to be is the most respected actress
working in India today. The winner of the National Film Festival
award for best actress three straight years between 1982 and
1984. She has also won three Filmfare Best Actress Awards.
Shabana was and continues to be a leading actress of Indian
'Art Cinema'. She rose to fame as the actress of choice for
director Shyam Benegal during the 1970s.
Shabana Azmi was one of the few actress who could alternate
between 'Art Cinema' and Bollywood masala. She could play
a convincing bell-bottomed jeans wearing glam Bollywood heroine
in one film and then turn around in her next project with
a searing portrayal of an oppressed village girl in rural
Rajasthan.
Shabana Azmi continues to be a force in Indian film.
She is also very active in social causes and is a leading
advocate of AIDS awareness in India.
