Latest news with #ShabanaAzmi
NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"Young" Farhan Akhtar Suggested To Change The Ending Of Fire, Reveals Shabana Azmi
New Delhi: Shabana Azmi treated her fans to an anecdote as she reunited with her Fire team. Shabana Azmi shared an image with her Fire co-star Nandita Das and director Deepa Mehta on Instagram on Thursday. All three women are dressed in black. Shabana Azmi revealed that the ending of the film was changed after a "young Farhan" Akhtar suggested to do so. What's Happening Shabana Azmi shared a picture featuring herself, Nandita Das and Deepa Mehta. All three women are dressed in black. They are seen smiling for the cameras. Shabana Azmi wrote in the caption that the ending of the film was changed and it was suggested by a young Farhan Akhtar. "The #Fire trio! 25 years later .. The film continues to be a point of reference all over the world . Few know that it had a different ending . It was young @faroutakhtar who advised that the ending should be changed to what is finally kept ..," wrote Shabana Azmi. "Also it was originally to be shot in Hindi but the dialogue didn't ring true. So literally 2 days before the shooting Deepa Mehta decided to keep the original English greatly approved by producer Bobby Bedi . Thank god the actors were bilingual and could rise to the challenge!" the film veteran added. Fire was released in 1996. It was the first of Deepa Mehta's element triology. It was succeeded by Earth (1998) and Water (2005). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shabana Azmi (@azmishabana18) About The Film Fire Fire is loosely based on Ismat Chughtai's 1942 story, Lihaaf (The Quilt). It is hailed as one of the first mainstream Bollywood films to explicitly show homosexual relations. The film was headlined by Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das's powerful performances. After the film released, several protests were staged, prompting conversations around homosexuality and the freedom of speech. In A Nutshell Almost after three decades of its release, Shabana Azmi shared that the ending of Deepa Mehta's film Fire was changed following the suggestion of Farhan Akhtar.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shabana Azmi reveals the real-life inspiration behind her role in short film 'Auntyji'
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has a rare glimpse into the roots of one of her most talked-about performances. She revealed that her character in the short film "Auntyji", directed by Adeeb Rizvi, was inspired by a real-life woman. Taking to Instagram, Azmi shared a photo of the woman and credited her as the muse behind the role. Alongside the image, she wrote, "The lady whom I took inspiration from for my role in #Adeeb Rizvi's short film #Auntyji." In the image, Shabana Azmi is seen warmly posing with her hand placed on the woman's shoulder-a gesture that reflects both admiration and affection. Released in 2018, "AuntyJi" was a touching short film that beautifully captured the power of unexpected connections. The 20-minute narrative followed the story of Parveen, a lonely Parsi widow played by Shabana Azmi, and Geetika, an acid attack survivor portrayed by Anmol Rodriguez. Despite coming from entirely different worlds, their chance encounter led to an emotional exchange of dreams, pain, and personal beliefs. What began as a brief meeting soon blossomed into an unlikely but deeply meaningful friendship. The film served as a gentle yet powerful reminder to live life on one's own terms, chase dreams unapologetically, and look beyond appearances to find common ground. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The short film also starred Akanksha Thakur , Mohit Hiranandani, Dhananjay Kapoor, and Gaurav Kamble , among others. Speaking of Shabana Azmi, the National Award-winning actress stepped into the world of cinema in 1974 with her debut film, "Ankur." Over the past five decades, she has carved an extraordinary path in the industry, building a prolific filmography of over 160 titles-largely within the realms of independent and neorealist parallel cinema. Reflecting on her journey in cinema, veteran actress Shabana Azmi described it in one word while speaking to IANS-"Arth". The acclaimed performer considers the film a turning point, marking the start of her deep connection with the women's movement and shaping her perspective both on and off screen. "I think 'Arth,' because I think that's the one that started my involvement with the women's movement," said Shabana Azmi. Shabana Azmi unfurls Indian flag in Australia's Melbourne ahead of Independence Day: '...An honour I never believed I could have'
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Dharmendra pokes fun at drama around kiss with Shabana Azmi in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani: 'Ek kiss ne hila diya'
Bollywood legend Dharmendra recently shared his thoughts on his role and the much-discussed kissing scene with Shabana Azmi in the romantic comedy Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. In a candid interview with ANI, the actor spoke positively about the film's aesthetic approach to romance, particularly highlighting the emotional depth of the scene. Discussing his experience filming the kissing scene with Shabana Azmi, Dharmendra described it as "aesthetic" and emphasised that "there is no age for romance." The veteran star humorously recalled a conversation he had with co-star Ranveer Singh, saying, "Maine Ranveer ko bola, Ranveer, Rocky aur Rani ki Prem Kahaani me, tune to bohot kisses ki hain, or meri ek hi kiss ne hila dala logo ko (I told Ranveer that you have had a lot of kisses on screen, and my one scene turned the world upside down)." He further added, "In a way, he (Dharmendra's character in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani) was like Devdas, the Devdas who wandered in alcohol, with no memory of anything, and then he dies... It's tragic, and it was a good story." Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani delves into the complex dynamics between families and cultures. Rocky, a free-spirited young man from a wealthy Punjabi family, and Rani, an ambitious Bengali news anchor, fall in love despite their stark differences. The 2023 film, directed by Karan Johar, is a delightful blend of comedy and romance, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt as the lead couple, Rocky and Rani. To test their commitment and understanding, the couple decides to live with each other's families, leading to moments of both humour and conflict. The film also features a stellar supporting cast, including Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Tota Roy Chowdhury, and Dharmendra.
News18
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
What Dharmendra Told Ranveer Singh After Kissing Shabana Azmi: 'Mere Ek Hi Kiss Ne Hila Dala'
Last Updated: Dharmendra described kiss with Shabana Azmi as "aesthetic" and emphasised that "there is no age for romance." When Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani hit theatres in 2023, it made headlines for different reasons. Apart from the chemistry between the lead pair Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, what also caught everyone's attention was a lip-lock sequence between veteran actors Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi. It instantly became the talk of the town and left everyone surprised. In a recent interview, Dharmendra also opened up about kissing Shabana Azmi in the movie. He described it as 'aesthetic" and emphasised that 'there is no age for romance." The actor recalled a hilarious conversation with Ranveer Singh and told ANI, 'Maine Ranveer ko bola, Ranveer, Rocky aur Rani ki prem kahani me, tune to bohot kisses ki hain, or meri ek hi kiss ne hila dala logo ko." 'In a way, he (Dharmendra's character in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani) was like Devdas, the Devdas who wandered in alcohol, with no memory of anything, and then he dies… It's tragic, and it was a good story," the veteran actor added. This is not the first time that Dharmendra opened up about his kissing scene in the Karan Johar directorial. Previously, in an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, the veteran actor said, 'I am hearing that Shabana and I have surprised the audience with the kissing scene, and at the same time they have even applauded it. I think people weren't expecting it and it came very suddenly which is why it created an impact. The last time I did a kissing scene was in Life In A Metro with Nafisa Ali and at that time too people had appreciated it." 'When Karan narrated the scene to us, I did not get excited (laughs). We understood it and I realised that it was something that the film required and wasn't forcefully put in and I said I will do it. Also, I believe there is no age for romance. Age is just a number and two people irrespective of age will show their love for each other by kissing. Shabana and I both did not feel any kind of awkwardness while doing it as it was very aesthetically shot," he added. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani also stars Jaya Bachchan, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Churni Ganguly and Anjali Anand in key roles. First Published:
News18
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Madhoo Recalls Filming ‘Horrible' Kissing Scene In 90s: ‘Wasn't Told To Me Beforehand'
Last Updated: Madhoo Shah reveals that the only deal-breaker for her was not doing explicit scenes onscreen and how she wishes to do what Shabana Azmi (who played queer) did in Fire someday. Madhoo Shah, who rose to fame with Mani Ratnam's Roja, believes that she had a rather 'gharelu' image and that it was her 'upbringing' that didn't let her do bold films. In her own words, the only deal-breaker that she had was to not do explicit scenes onscreen. 'And that's the only reason why I turned down films. Otherwise, I said yes to everything that came my way," she tells News18 Showsha exclusively. However, there's this one time that she had kissed her co-star, who she decides not to name, in a film, which didn't turn out to be a very pleasant experience. Recalling the episode, she says, 'It wasn't the kind of kiss that we see in films today. It was more like a peck on the lips but that made me feel really bad." In fact, she came to know about it only when she reached the sets. 'That I was required to kiss wasn't something that was conveyed to me before I began shooting. When I was told, they took me to the side and we had a conversation. They explained to me why it was important and that's why I did it. But it was the most horrible and non-convincing thing I had to do," Madhoo shares. Eventually, she decided to let it go and it made its way to the final cut of the film. 'The kiss didn't even serve any purpose. I didn't even have a conversation with the director to not include that scene in the film. I let it pass. I was too young in every way and not just by age. Today, 22-year-olds and 24-year-olds are so clever and exposed. At 22, I was very naïve," says the actor, who will next be seen in Kannappa. However, it was Deepa Mehta's 1996 film Fire where Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das played lesbian lovers that began to change her perception about onscreen intimacy. 'I don't mean to say that onscreen kissing is a bad thing. When I saw Fire starring actors like Shabana ji, I thought they really broke the barrier of their own conditioning, which I was unable to do back then. I don't think I can do what they did even now. I appreciate actors who can shave their heads off or play lesbians in films," Madhoo remarks. Having said that, she looks forward to coming out of her own inhibitions by taking baby steps at this phase of her career. 'To separate yourself as a person and an actor and break psychological barriers is something that I want to do in my own way. Back in the day, I was just a girl who wanted to be a movie star. Today, I'm an actor who can wants to do different kinds of roles. I want to see how much I can break my own conditioning and transform myself and if I can play a role as convincingly as Shabana ji did in Fire," she says. First Published:
