Shabana Azmi (born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. An alumna of the
Film and Television Institute of India of
Pune, she made her film debut in 1974 and soon became one of the leading actresses of
Parallel Cinema, a Bengali new-wave movement known for its serious content and neo-realism and received government patronage during the times. Regarded as one of the finest actresses in India, Azmi's performances in films in a variety of genres have generally earned her praise and awards, which include a record of five wins of the
National Film Award for Best Actress and several international honours. She has also received four
Filmfare Awards.