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Shabana Azmi's First National Award Came From Aparna Sen's Refusal
3 Apr
Summary
- Aparna Sen declined 'Ankur', which launched Shabana Azmi's career.
- Sen cited linguistic challenges and an uncertain Hindi film career.
- Azmi's role as Laxmi won her first National Award for Best Actress.
Aparna Sen has shared her candid reasons for passing on the film 'Ankur,' which marked Shyam Benegal's directorial debut and became a pivotal moment for Shabana Azmi. Sen was not keen on a mainstream Hindi film career and found the role's Telugu-infused Hindi dialect challenging.
Despite facing prior rejections, Benegal accepted Sen's decision gracefully. Shabana Azmi's portrayal of Laxmi, a domestic worker, was lauded for its depth and vulnerability, earning her the National Award for Best Actress. The film itself was significant for its realistic depiction of rural societal dynamics.
Over time, Sen and Azmi developed a warm professional relationship, collaborating on films like 'Sati' and 'Sonata.' 'Ankur' remains a landmark in 1970s parallel cinema.
