Shabana Azmi: Used to joke that it would be easier for Steven Spielberg’s children to cast me than Zoya and Farhan - Exclusive

Shabana Azmi, one of India’s most revered actresses, is set to surprise audiences with her latest role as a drug dealer in ‘Dabba Cartel.’ In an exclusive conversation, she speaks about the challenges of playing complex characters, working with young co-stars, and her remarkable 50-year journey in cinema.
I wouldn’t really call her wicked. She’s a grey character, shaped by circumstances. But she is decisive and a leader. Finding her layers was challenging because, at one point, she starts feeling alive again and enters this space with no holds barred.
Actually, I enjoy playing different kinds of roles. What I find tough to play is a bechari (helpless woman). Aparna Sen, a very dear friend, once warned me that my off-screen persona might prevent directors from casting me as a helpless character. That goes against what Stanislavsky teaches. He believed an actor should be able to prefix the words “If I were” to any character—be it a pauper, a queen, a streetwalker, or a victim—and play it truthfully, without letting personal beliefs interfere.
I have tried to follow that philosophy, but I am also a product of my upbringing and values. Sadly, that limits me. I can't imagine myself playing a victim without imparting dignity to the character. So be it.
Inevitably, we end up becoming friends, and the bond lasts beyond the project. Urmila Matondkar, Dia Mirza, and I worked together in ‘Tehzeeb’ fourteen years ago, and we’re still part of our ‘gurlz’ gang. I’m sure ‘Dabba Cartel’ will be another happy experience. We learn from each other, bond over food, and share life experiences.
Central or not, do you think I had a choice? Bahu (daughter-in-law) gave the order, beta (son) was producing it—how could I refuse? Reverse nepotism, maybe?!!!
Yes, I had a fantastic dialogue coach, Shivam Parekh, who is also an actor. I wanted to add a dialect to my character, but the challenge was making it comprehensible for a pan-India audience. So, it needed some tempering, and Shivam really helped me with that.
Once I’m on set, I’m just another actor like everyone else. If I get extra attention, it’s only because of seniority, which is part of our Indian tehzeeb (culture) and nothing else.
You know, I always used to joke that it would be easier for Steven Spielberg’s children to cast me than Zoya and Farhan. And that actually happened—I worked with Spielberg in Halo before they cast me in ‘Dabba Cartel’! Farhan had directed me in a short film, but I told them it was high time they cast me in a full-length feature before my teeth fall out!
When I started, I had no idea I’d still be working 50 years later. Mashallah, I’m very grateful for it. I’ve realized that what I enjoy most is acting, so I fully intend to continue—because my best is yet to come.