The passing of filmmaker Shahji Karun has left the Indian and global cinema community heartbroken. A master craftsman whose works like Piravi and Swaham redefined the language of Indian visual storytelling, Shahji Karun’s loss is being deeply mourned by colleagues, friends, and admirers.
Bollywood’s veteran actress, Shabana Azmi, along with late actress, Smita Patil, were among the first few stars to attend the iconic and prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 1976. Shabana shared a vivid memory of attending the event with Smita for Shyam Benegal’s film, Nishant and recalled how both of them collected an audience for their movie. Shabana shared how it was Benegal’s idea to make them wear a Kanjivaram saree.
From her early days navigating the then-distinct worlds of art-house and mainstream cinema, to her current place as a celebrated actress, who is keen to explore roles across mediums, Shabana Azmi has consistently broken stereotypes and paved the way for generations of actors. In an interview with BT, she reflects on her journey, talks about the positive changes happening in Hindi cinema, and how she wants to have a choice of films to work in.
