Happy Birthday Wishes to Shabana Azmi, one of the most talented actresses of Indian Cinema, who turned 68 today.

An alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India of Pune, she made her film debut in 1974 and soon became one of the leading actresses of Parallel Cinema, a Bengali New Wave movement known for its serious content and neo-realism. Regarded as one of the finest actresses in India, Azmi’s performances in films in a variety of genres have generally earned her praise and awards, which include a record of five wins of the National Film Award for Best Actress and several international honors. She has also received four Filmfare Awards.

Known for her strong portrayal of women characters on screen, Shabana Azmi is one of the most acclaimed actors of Indian cinema. She debuted in 1974 with Shyam Benegal’s ‘Ankur’ and bagged her first National Film Award for Best Actress.

She soon became one of the sought after actresses of parallel cinema. In her career of over four decades, Shabana has appeared in over 120 Hindi and Bengali films in both mainstream and independent cinema.

Her wide repertoire of work has earned her lot of praise and accolades. She has a record of winning five National Awards and several other international awards, recognition and honors.

She is married to Indian poet and screenwriter Javed Akhtar.