Shabana Azmi at 75: Mahesh Bhatt reflects on a journey that began with Arth
The conscience of Indian cinema: Shabana at 75… Mahesh Bhatt reflects on a journey that began with Arth and celebrates the woman whose generosity and artistry remain unmatched. As told to Subhash K Jha How do you begin to tell the story of a girl who became the heartbeat of India’s parallel cinema? Shyam Benegal, one of our greatest filmmakers, discovered her. She was born into the home of Kaifi Azmi and Shaukat Azmi, where poetry and theatre were daily bread, and where legends like Saeed Jaffrey often walked through the door. She was shaped further at the Film and Television Institute of India, where craft met conviction. From there, Shabana Azmi walked straight into history. I do not think of age when I think of Shabana. I think of a young woman whose eyes could silence a hall full of people. I remember Metro Cinema in Bombay, with its 1100-plus seats, and that unforgettable song from Arth — Koi Yeh Kaise Bataye. My DOP, Pravin Bhatt, lit her in such a way tha...