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Bollywood has long been home to stars who’ve risen from humble beginnings to achieve greatness. Among them is an actress whose journey from simplicity to stardom continues to inspire generations. We are talking about Shabana Azmi, one of India’s most celebrated and respected performers. Born in 1950 in Hyderabad, she was surrounded by creativity—her father, Kaifi Azmi, was a legendary poet and lyricist and her mother, Shaukat Azmi, a renowned stage actress. Growing up in an artistic environment, Shabana developed a deep passion for theatre and cinema early on, often accompanying her mother to Prithvi Theatre. Despite her privileged artistic background, she believed in hard work and self-reliance. She even worked at a petrol pump, earning Rs 30 a day by selling coffee. Despite her privileged artistic background, she believed in hard work and self-reliance. She even worked at a petrol pump, earning Rs 30 a day by selling coffee. Determined to hone her craft, Shabana joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune to formally study acting During her final year at FTII, Shabana was offered roles in Faslah (1974) and Parinay (1974), but it was Shyam Benegal’s Ankur (1974) that became her powerful debut. Shabana Azmi’s performance in Ankur earned her the National Award, the first of five she would go on to win throughout her illustrious career. Beyond her professional achievements, Shabana’s personal life also drew attention—she fell in love with Javed Akhtar, who was already married at the time and their relationship endured many ups and downs before they tied the knot. Today, the power couple, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, share a legacy as creative icons, with an estimated net worth of Rs 206 crore, as per IMDb.
