On Shabana Azmi’s 68th birthday, her younger brother and renowned cinematographer Baba Azmi, reveals exclusively to The Quint, the other side of his bhajia pav loving, kind-hearted, actress sister.
Shabana, the Bully
As a kid, Shabana used to bully me a lot. Because I am younger than her, I would always look to her for approval. Once we had a get together at home, and cold drinks were served for everyone. There was Mangola, Coke and many other drinks. I wanted Mangola. But Mangola, according to her, was not the sophisticated thing to drink. She gestured that I pick up the Coke. I did so, but I really wanted to drink Mangola. Both of us still distinctly remember this incident and have a big laugh about it.
– Baba Azmi
“Shabana is a Far Cry From the Sophisticated Actress That People Know”
The other thing I remember from our childhood was our fascination with our mother, Shaukat Azmi, an actor. We have grown up watching her, rehearsing for her plays. So the desire to act kind of flowed in early on, in Shabana. As an actor, Shabana portrays so many characters, and she portrays them well. But contrary to her image, she is totally a different person. Unlike the outgoing characters she has played in Aparna Sen or Shyam Benegal’s films, in real life, if she could, Shabana would remain at home. She could go on eating bhajia pav and (just) be with her family and friends. That’s a far cry from the sophisticated Shabana people know. Even on her birthday, she never wants a party. She just wants her family and friends to hang around. Every birthday, we meet in the morning and from lunch till dinner, we are all together. And then probably we will watch a film. It’s simplistic pleasures that make her day.
– Baba Azmi
Shabana’s Love for Music and Perfection
As children, we didn’t have options, so radio was the only medium. Even today, her love for music continues, though she is not into Bollywood film songs. She loves Kishori Amonkar, and she listens to Begum Akhtar a lot. On the other hand, the Beatles are her perennial favourite, like everyone else’s. And when she is doing household chores, she likes lounge music in the background. And then there is her OCD, when it comes to any job. When my sister is doing something, she wants it to be correct and perfect. If she has committed to something, then it has to be spot on. She just can’t tolerate duffer people.
– Baba Azmi
“Her Friends and Family are Her Biggest Strength, and Weakness Too”
I remember once our maid, Vatsala, had bought a taxi on loan, and put it up on rent. But the driver did something wrong, and the car was held up in the Marathwada region. Our maid was very frightened, and when she told me the whole story, I spoke to Shabana about it. Shabana took so much trouble, speaking to anyone and everyone who could help, going out of the way to explain that Vatsala was innocent, and that her car didn’t deserve to be stuck there for the driver’s fault. In a generic scenario, one would perhaps call and give up. But Shabana was persistent, and despite the car being outside Mumbai, she brought it back. For Vatsala, Shabana is God. This quality is very special in her, she will help anyone wholeheartedly. This is also her biggest weakness. You can make her do anything in the name of the family, otherwise she is invincible.
– Baba Azmi
“It’s High Time Shabana Directs a Film”
In reading, Shabana prefers non-fiction. She can express incidents really well, and she has the capability of penning her own biography. She is not a poetess like my father, but she can express herself in prose. And yes, it’s high time she directs a film. She has a famous screenwriter and a DoP in the house. I think she would be a terrific director.
– Baba Azmi
Shabana is Now My Santa Claus
This bully however, has become my Santa Claus now. I call her Santa Claus because whatever I need, she will present it to me quietly, without even my asking. Last I remember, I was talking about picking up a 5D camera, and the next thing I knew, she had bought one in New York. I just have to make a wish and my Santa will present it! In return, she doesn’t let me do anything. Whenever I ask her what she wants as a present, I get told she doesn’t want me to pick up any ‘rubbish’. It’s always ‘I will tell you when I find something’. In the end, she will never ask.
– Baba Azmi
So rather than asking her again what she would like on her birthday, I want to make a wish for her. Today, the one thing that I want her to do is slow down and enjoy her space. She has a lovely house in Khandala. She should spend time there, eat bhajias and have fun.
– Baba Azmi
(The writer is a journalist and a screenwriter who believes in the insanity of words, in print or otherwise. Follow him on Twitter: @RanjibMazumder)
(This article is from The Quint’s archives and was first published on 18 September 2015. It is now being republished to mark Shabana Azmi’s birthday.)
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