Each day brings its own blessings Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi’s turned 62, in her words, “a very proud 62”. Guests poured in, since her home is an open house of birthdays.

However the birthday girl was nowhere to be seen. Her husband Javed Akhtar, mom Shaukat and sister-in-law who greeted an avalanche of guests sheepishly kept up a face repeating the line, “Shabana will be back soon.” However it was a good 3 ½ hours before Shabana returned.

When we asked about her mysterious disappearance and the panic it created Shabana laughed, “I took off on my own to see film Barfi. Can you believe it? On my birthday, I didn’t want any company for the film. I like watching special movies in isolation so that conversation doesn’t come in the way. Why on my birthday? Because a good film to be savoured on my own is the best gift I could give to myself.”

Shabana couldn’t stop raving about Ranbir and Priyanka’s performances in Barfi. “For Priyanka to completely get away from her glamorous image and submerge herself in her characters shows her to be a fearless actress.

The previous day, of Shabana’s birthday in Mijwan where the villagers gave her a very special gift.”They for the first time baked a cake. She was deeply moved.

Shabana also inaugurated a school in Azamgarh. There the students presented her with photos from her films. She says “It was a very special moment for me. I think I am blessed and really don’t need my birthday to feel special. Each day brings its own blessings.”

Shabana says she was delivered into this world by a blind mid-wife. “Can you imagine a blind mid-wife! We need to empower women at the grassroots level. Mid-wives should be given a chance to be trained in child delivery.