Tabu

Known as one of the most versatile actresses of the Indian film fraternity, Tabu is famous for starring in movies like Maachis (1996), Virasat (1997), Astitva (2000),Chandni Bar (2001), Maqbool (2003) Cheeni Kum (2007), The Namesake (2006), Life Of Pi (2012), and Haider (2014). In 2011, this National Award winning actress was felicitated with the Padma Sri, Indias fourth highest civilian award, for her contribution to Indian cinema.

EARLY LIFE

Tabassum Hashmi was born on 4th November 1971 in Telangana, Hyderabad to Jamal Hashmi and Rizwana. After her parents divorced, Tabu was raised by her mother and her maternal grandparents. She completed her primary education from St. Anns High School in Hyderabad and moved to Mumbai in 1983 to complete her higher studies from St Xavier's College. Tabu is the niece of the veteran actress Shabana Azmi and cinematographer Baba Azmi. Farah Naaz, an actress known for her work in films like Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri, and Begunaah is Tabu's elder sister.

PERSONAL LIFE


Tabu was rumored to be in a relationship with the Bollywood actor Sanjay Kapoor. Not having found her luck in love, her alleged relationship with Sanjay came to an end for reasons unknown. She was then associated with the Producer and Director Sajid Nadiadwala. Sajids wife Divya Bharti was close friends with Tabu. It was rumored that after the demise of Sajids wife, Tabu and Sajid came close. While shooting for his home production Jeet, the two fell in love with each other and made their relationship public. Tabu was fond of Sajid but was not happy about the fact that she would be the second woman in his life. Meanwhile, she started spending time with the south actor Akkineni Nagarjuna, and their closeness marked the end of her previous relationship with Sajid. Tabu and Nagarjuna shared a close relationship in spite of the actor being already married. They openly accepted their relationship in the media and were also rumored to be living in together. In the talk show Koffee with Karan, Tabu was seen talking about the actor in a passionate way. When asked about the south actor she stated that boyfriends come and boyfriends go, but Nagarjuna remains.

MOVIE CAREER

Tabu started her journey in acting by making a small appearance in the 1982 Bollywood film Bazaar when she was just 10 years old and at the age of fourteen, she played Dev Anands daughter in the Bollywood Drama Hum Naujawan. Her first lead role as an actress came with the 1991 Telugu film Coolie No.1, co-starring Venkatesh. The film was a hit at the Box Office. Tabu made her Bollywood debut with Rishi Kapoor in the film Pehla Pehla Pyaar. The film was a failure at the Box Office. In 1987, Tabu was signed opposite Sanjay Kapoor in the Boney Kapoor production Prem. The film took eight years in the making and when released in 1995, was proven to be a big flop at the Box Office. After giving a series of flops in the beginning of her career, she received the limelight with her role in the 1994 film Vijaypath. Starring alongside Ajay Devgan, the film brought her the much-needed appreciation and she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for the same.

Following this, she went on to give hit films like David Dhawans Saajan Chale Sasural and Priyadarshan directed- Virasat. Both the films were commercial successes and Virasat won Tabu her first Filmfare Critics Award for the Best Actress. She was also seen in the critically acclaimed Malayalam period epic film Kalapani directed by Priyadarshan.

There was no turning back for the actress then. She continued her glory with films like Maachis in the year 1996 and Hu Tu Tu in 1999. Her portrayal of a Sikh woman, Virender Kaur in the Gulzar directed Maachis, gave her the National Film Award for Best Actress. She then appeared in the 2000 bi-lingual film Astitva. Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, the film received critical acclaim and won Tabu her second Filmfare Critics Award for the Best Actress.

Her next release was Madhur Bhandarkars critically-acclaimed film Chandni Bar. The film showcased the hard-hitting reality of the Mumbai underworld, dance bars, and prostitution, where Tabu played Mumtaz Ali Ansari, the lead lady in the film. Her gritty portrayal of the character got her a unanimous appreciation and she won National Film Award for Best Actress for the film. Tabu also starred alongside Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Mammootty, and Ajith Kumar in the Tamil film Kandukondain Kandukondain.

Subsequently, in the year 2003, she was cast in Vishal Bhardwajs Shakespearean adaptation Maqbool. With co-stars Pankaj Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, and Masumeh Makhija the film was well appreciated by the critics but failed to create the buzz at the box office.She also appeared in the 2007 film Cheeni Kum, R. Balkis romantic drama which saw Tabu as Nina Verma, a 34- year old having a romantic relationship with the 64-year-old Buddhadev Gupta, played by the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan.

She then starred in films like Nishikant Kamats Drishyam in 2015 and Abhishek Kapoors Fitoor in 2016. Both the films were commercially well received but failed to embark good reviews from the critics.
Did you Know?
Trivia

Tabu is well spoken in Hindi, English, Urdu and Telugu.

Tabu loves miniature perfumes and has them in every corner of her house.

The role Sona in the movie Wake Up Sid was first offered to Tabu but she wanted to make some changes in the movie. Zoya Akhtar politely turned down the suggestions and replaced her with Konkona Sen Sharma.

Though Tabu has been known for her choice of experimental roles in films, one thing that she never experimented with is her hairstyle. She considers her long black hair her biggest asset.

Tabu confessed that she can never cry onscreen without using glycerin.

Gossip & Controversy

While filming for the film Hum Saath Saath Hain in 1998, the actress along with Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Sonali Bendre were charged under the Wildlife Protection Act for hunting two blackbucks in the Kankani village of Rajasthan. The infamous case had built up a rage in the public. Later, however, Salman Khan was the only one to be convicted. The other actors including Tabu had denied the charges and were thus acquitted of the crime.

PERSONAL QUOTES

I am not a part of any rat race. I am happy to be myself.

I hate it when a director asks the heroine to adjust her dates to match the hero`s. Heroes are treated like gods.

I really want to be able to look at my career graph from the outside, objectively, but I find it hard to do that. I was fortunate to find innumerate scripts with well-layered parts for me, films like Maachis, Hu Tu Tu, Maqbool, Life of Pi, The Namesake, Chandni Bar, Astitva, Haider, Drishyam, to name a few. I`m happy the filmmakers who made them thought of me.