Veteran actor Shabana Azmi is set to add another prestigious honour to her remarkable career. The actor will be conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by the University of East London on September 9, recognising her contribution to cinema, the arts and social change. In an interview with Mid-Day, Azmi reflected on the significance of the honour and remembered her late father, renowned poet Kaifi Azmi, whose pride in her achievements remains deeply special to her.The recognition comes at a particularly successful phase for the actor, who is currently receiving attention for her performances in ‘Awarapan 2’ and ‘Batwara 1947’.
Shabana Azmi on remembering her Abba, Kaifi Azmi
Naturally, Azmi is humbled and honoured by the recognition. She told mid-day, “When I go up on stage, I always think of Abba [Kaifi Azmi] and smile. It used to make him proud despite the fact that he had several [honorary doctorates] himself, as does Javed [Akhtar, husband]! University of East London is highly respected for its academics, and its inclusive and socially conscious leadership.”
Shabana Azmi’s ‘USA Vs Raj’ to open Chicago South Asian Film Festival
September will bring another professional high for the actor. Her Indo-British movie, USA vs Raj, will open the Chicago South Asian Film Festival on September 18. “The première is on my birthday,” Azmi smiled, before elaborating on Ravi K Chandran’s directorial venture, which tells the story of Dr Rajendra Bothra, a celebrated surgeon who was accused of healthcare fraud in the US and later cleared by a unanimous jury verdict in 2022. “Almost 90 per cent of the film is based on facts. A few creative liberties have been taken with Dr Bothra’s permission,” she added.Excited about the two events, she said, “I function on high adrenaline, exactly like Abba. I keep complaining that I need some downtime, but beyond two days of rest, I get restless.”
Shabana Azmi on the work front
On the acting front, Shabana Azmi has had a packed year, currently earning praise for her performances in two of the biggest Independence Day releases, ‘Awarapan 2’ and ‘Batwara 1947’. In ‘Awarapan 2’, the sequel to the 2007 cult classic, she plays Nafisa Nawaz alongside Emraan Hashmi and Disha Patani, while in ‘Batwara 1947’, Rajkumar Santoshi’s Partition drama, she stars alongside Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta.
