Thank you for not doing it: Shabana Azmi to Aparna Sen for turning down Ankur

India Today

21-05-2025

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi and actor-filmmaker Aparna Sen came together for a heartfelt session at the Habitat Film Festival, where they reflected on their bond, remembered the late filmmaker Shyam Benegal, and celebrated Shabana's 50-year milestone in cinema. The chat was more like a tete-a-tete between two friends, who fondly referred to each other as Munni (Shabana) and Reena (Aparna), while the audience listened in like friendly eavesdroppers.advertisementThe conversation, marked by warmth and wit, began with Aparna Sen paying tribute to Shyam Benegal, who died in December last year. "It's a loss, but he's left behind such wonderful films and memories. That is what we have to celebrate today. And along with that, we must celebrate Shabana's 50 years of acting. She is an inspiration to all the actresses who came after her,' Aparna said, before turning to Shabana with a smile, adding, "Really, you are."Shabana, with her trademark wit, quipped, "You never told me that when I was doing four films with you."
Aparna responded, "At that time it was difficult." She went on to reveal that before Shabana, Benegal had approached her to play Lakshmi's role, which earned Shabana her first National Award. "Now, let me tell you something. Shyam had asked me to play the role of Lakshmi in 'Ankur'."advertisementShabana playfully interrupted, 'Thank you for not doing it!'
Shabana Azmi and Aparna Sen at the 17th Habitat Film Festival.
Aparna continued, 'My loss was Shabana's gain. It was Shyam's first film and when he sent me the synopsis, I saw that the role was of a Hyderabadi servant girl who speaks smatterings of Telugu. Immediately, I was terrified. I didn't say that to him though. I just said thank you, but I don't think I'll do it."She added that if Benegal had been probed further, she would've given in: "And, that would have been a disaster because we wouldn't have had Shabana. I was so happy when I saw her in Ankur - and you were just wonderful.'Reflecting on her debut with 'Ankur', Shabana called working with Shyam Benegal a transformative experience: 'It wasn't just working with a director, it was an exercise in knowing myself. I hung on to every word he said."She added that Benegal was warm and had such faith in his actors that they felt confident taking risks.advertisementShabana fondly recalled travelling to Berlin with Benegal for the film's screening. 'It was my first time abroad. I just wanted to rush to the malls and shop,' she laughed, adding, 'But Shyam would sit and talk about the taxi driver, the garden, the history of the place. He taught me that there's so much more to experience."She also praised his meticulous nature. "He'd plan our entire festival itinerary, ensuring we watched the right films. He was so invested in learning and sharing knowledge."
Shabana Azmi and Anant Nag played pivotal roles in Ankur.
Aparna then brought up Shabana's gold medal from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), jokingly asking if she brought it to the set for confidence. Shabana responded, 'No, not at all. It was in my being.'Shabana recalled preparing for the role of Lakshmi. She said she had never even stepped into a village before shooting 'Ankur.' 'When I reached Yellareddiguda, the village where we shot, Shyam asked me to just wear my costume and walk around. The tailor came to take my measurements, and I was shocked — a male tailor in a village! That's how I began," she elaborated.advertisementShe shared that she didn't know how to speak Telugu, but she would speak Dakhini. Shabana said she was familiar with the dialect, having visited Hyderabad often, which helped her essay the role.Shayam Benegal's 'Ankur' won three National Film Awards and was nominated for a Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1974. You May Also Like