Shabana Azmi has marked her illustrious career in Indian cinema with a record-holding number of National Film Awards. She earned her first award with her debut in the 1972 film “Ankur.” Recently, Azmi shared a fascinating anecdote from the set of her 1976 movie “Fakira,” highlighting a memorable incident with the legendary actor Shashi Kapoor.
A Childhood Admirer of Shashi Kapoor
In a candid interview with Zoom, Shabana Azmi revealed her early admiration for Shashi Kapoor. She recounted that Prithviraj Kapoor, Shashi’s father, was her immediate neighbor. Every Sunday, young Shabana eagerly awaited Shashi Kapoor’s visits, saving her pocket money to buy black-and-white photographs of the actor to get them signed.
The Incident on the Set of Fakira
During the shoot of the song “Dil Mein Tujhe Bithakar” for the film “Fakira,” Azmi faced a challenging situation. She arrived on set before Kapoor and found the choreography too intimate. Recalling the event, she said, “I was very young at that time and had tears in my eyes. I left the set and told my hairdresser that I couldn’t do those shots and started crying.”
Shashi Kapoor confronted Azmi about her refusal. He sternly asked, “What’s wrong with you?” Upon hearing her reluctance, Kapoor lashed out, reminding her of the demands of being an actress, saying, “Didn’t you realize this when you told your family you wanted to become an actress, stupid girl?”
Despite his harsh words, Kapoor’s actions spoke differently. After half an hour, he had ensured that the intimate moves were changed. Azmi remarked with a smile, “This was the kind of person he was.”
Following “Fakira,” Shabana Azmi and Shashi Kapoor starred together in multiple films, including “Hira Aur Patthar,” “Chor Sipahee,” “Atithee,” and “Oonch Neech Beech.” Their professional relationship was marked by mutual respect and camaraderie.
Recent Work
Shabana Azmi’s recent work includes her appearance in R. Balki’s 2023 film “Ghoomer.” Shashi Kapoor’s last on-screen appearance was a cameo in the 1998 film “Ghar Bazar,” and he also starred in the English movie “Side Streets.”