New Delhi: Shabana Azmi has turned a year older today, on Sep 18, 2024. The veteran actor is known for her contribution to parallel cinema in the 70s, belongs to a family of artistes with liberal ideology. Shabana is married to lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar. In a recent interaction with Indian Express, she maintained that romance is the first thing to flee in a marriage.
What is non-negotiable in a marriage
When asked what was non-negotiable in her marriage, she said, "respect". "Respect! Though you can’t demand respect, you have to earn it. Love keeps changing. Romance is the first thing that disappears with marriage. But you have to keep working at it – it’s a process of constant adjustment. Togetherness, friendship, interest in each other, and giving space to your partner is paramount. That can only stem from respect," Azmi told the publication.
About not having children
When asked about how Shabana coped with not having children, the veteran actor said, "It’s tough coming to terms with the fact that you can’t bear children. Society makes you feel incomplete. You have to work hard to pull yourself out of that. But your ultimate sense of self must come from your work. Women often measure self-worth from their relationships – how they hold up as a wife, mother daughter… For a man that’s not the criterion of success – rather it’s his career, his work that gives him the greatest satisfaction. I believe that should apply to all genders."
Shabana also spoke about asking her mother what she thought to be the most fulfilling of all her roles, she confessed that her answer left her surprised.
“She said her work and appreciation for it gave her primary satisfaction. Women have to overcome patriarchal expectations. It doesn’t mean turning up your nose to duty but making it more inclusive so that your partner also respects it,” Azmi added.
Shabana Azmi is a national-award winning actor. Her contribution to the indie-wave or prallalel cinema as an artist has been immense.
Some of her notable works include 'Ankur', 'Arth', 'Paar', 'Mandi', 'Khandhar', 'Masoom' and several others.