Shabana Azmi, an acclaimed Indian actress, and activist was born on September 21, 1950, in Hyderabad, India. Shabana has done over 140 movies since she made her debut in ‘Ankur’ in 1974. With this film, Shabana won the first of five National Awards for Best Actress. The remaining four were for: ‘Arth’ (1982), ‘Khandhar’ (1983). ‘Paar’ (1984), and ‘Godmother’ (1984). She has done Parallel Cinema (a Bengali art movement), as well as commercial and international cinema.  Other well-known movies are: ‘Sparsh’ (1980), ‘Masoom’ (1983), ‘Kamia’ (1984), ‘Bhavna’ (1984), ‘Main Azaad Hoon (1989), ‘Saaz’ (1997), and ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. (2007). Shabana is the recipient of the Padma Shri in 1988, and the Padma Bhushan in 2012, for her contribution to the arts in India. In 2016, she won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘Neerja’. Shabana has advocated for HIV/AIDS education, has demonstrated against communalism in India, and is a member of the Prime Minister of India’s National Integration Council. Shabana is the daughter of Indian poet Kaifi Azmi and stage actress, Shaukat Azmi. She is the second wife of screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar.