Shabana Azmi Recalls Her Kids Farhan-Zoya Akhtar’s Reaction To Her Filming Fire: ‘I Said, You Know It’s A Same-Sex Film, She Asked, So?’
Shabana Azmi shared how her husband Javed Akhtar as well as her kids Zoya Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar encouraged her to do the film Fire, co-starring Nandita Das, despite it being a same-sex film
Over the years, veteran actress Shabana Azmi has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry with her versatile performances. She was one of the few actresses who never shied away from breaking out of the stereotypes set by society for women and portraying strong female characters. Amidst romantic movies and hard-core actioners, she starred in Deepa Mehta’s 1996 film Fire alongside Nandita Das. The film's announcement had not gone down well with the audience back then, as it showed a romantic relationship developing between sisters-in-law, who are stuck in loveless marriages.
Being one of the first same-sex Bollywood movies, people had taken protests to the streets by burning posters and issuing threats to the filmmaker. Now, around 28 years later, Shabana has opened up about Fire, which was considered to be way ahead of its time, and how her husband Javed Akhtar as well as her kids Zoya Akhtar and Farhan Akhtar encouraged her to work in the film. Opening up about the same during an interview with Zoom, she explained how she always had reservations about signing the film as “people tend to be very conservative” before talking to her family. ALSO READ: SHOCKING! Shabana Azmi Files Police Complaint Against Users ‘Phishing’ Under Her Name; Issues Stern Warning-READ BELOW
Talking about her husband’s reaction, she said that he only askes her one question, would she be able to defend the film when it is criticised? At that time her response was yes. She then proceeded to speak to Zoya about it. Recalling the incident, the 73-year-old actress recalled, “I told her… I don’t know if I should do it. She was like, ‘Do you like the script?’ I said ‘Yes.’ So, she said, ‘What other consideration can there be?’ I said, ‘Well you know, it’s same sex film.’ She said ‘So?’ And I looked at her and I thought Oh my god, the younger generation thinks completely differently.” ALSO READ: Dharmendra Has The BEST Reaction To People Questioning Him About His Kissing Scene With Shabana Azmi In 'RARKPK'! Says, It Was 'Daayein Hath Ka Khel'-READ BELOW!
Further in the interview, Azmi explained that her character Radha was supposed to die in the fire, however, it was her son Farhan Akhtar’s perspective that changed the climax of the film. Quoted by Pinkvilla, opening up about his reaction to the climax of the Deepa Mehta directorial, he told her, “No, you can’t succumb to the fire, because that would lose the very purpose of what you are saying. So she cannot die.” It was after listening to the Zindagi Naa Milegi Dobaara actor that Fire’s climax was amended.
On the work front, Shabana Azmi was last seen in Saiyami Kher and Abhishek Bachchan starrer Ghoomer. She will be next seen in Bun Tikki alongside Zeenat Aman and Abhay Deol.
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