Five-time National Award winner Shabana Azmi said she no longer expects to win India’s top honour in cinema, during a candid interview where she opened up on recognition, ambition and what truly motivates her nowadays.
“No one is giving me any National Awards anymore,” Azmi said in an interaction with Variety India, when asked if she hoped Lahore 1947 would bring her another National Award.
She added that awards no longer drive her. Acting, she insisted, remains the real reward. “I’ve realised that the thing I like doing most is acting. Awards are still important, but they are not the impetus to get on a set,” she said.
What is Lahore 1947 about?
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir Khan, Lahore 1947 draws from Asghar Wajahat’s celebrated play Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya, O Jamyai Ni. The story unfolds during the Partition of India in 1947, one of the most turbulent chapters in South Asian history. The film stars Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Ali Fazal and Karan Deol, bringing together a multi-generational ensemble.
Azmi has described her character in the film as emotionally demanding. “This character cries so much. I haven’t wept so much on screen,” she said, underscoring the intensity of the part.
She also noted that the project marked several firsts in her career. It is her first collaboration with director Santoshi and her first time working with Aamir Khan as a producer.
Calling Santoshi “old-school but absolutely certain of what he wants”, Azmi praised the director’s clarity of vision. She added that Khan gave Santoshi the creative freedom to realise the project as he had long intended.
Why is the film generating buzz?
Lahore 1947 has already attracted attention for its historical subject and its combination of established stars. The film is slated for an Independence Day release this year.
For Azmi, the film reflects her enduring commitment to meaningful cinema. Awards or not, she appears determined to keep choosing roles that continue to test her.
