Veteran powerhouse Shabana Azmi stepped into her 76th year with an early birthday bash that brought the best of Bollywood together. The legendary actress, who officially marks her birthday on September 18, shared glimpses of the intimate yet glamorous festivities on social media, proving that she remains the heart of the industry. Among the highlights of the evening was a thoughtful and artistic cake gifted by Vidya Balan and her husband, producer Siddharth Roy Kapur. The custom dessert featured a striking portrait of the actress alongside a sweet note that read, “Batwarapan! A talent that is borderless! EST. 1950 STILL GOING STRONG.” A touched Shabana took to Instagram to thank the couple, noting that their innovative gesture brought a wide smile to her face.
The guest list was nothing short of a star-studded affair, with several familiar faces from the film fraternity showing up to shower the actress with love. Shabana shared a charming snapshot with a group of her friends, including Divya Dutta, Tanvi Azmi, Dia Mirza, Richa Chadha, Vidya Balan, and Shahana Goswami, captioning the moment simply as “Pretty women.” The evening also saw actor Anil Kapoor in attendance, adding to the high-spirited atmosphere of the celebration.
Born in 1950 to the iconic poet Kaifi Azmi and theatre veteran Shaukat Kaifi, Shabana has carved an unparalleled legacy in Indian cinema. Since her 1974 debut in Shyam Benegal’s Ankur, she has balanced parallel and mainstream cinema with effortless grace. From her hard-hitting performances in Arth, Mandi, and Masoom to her memorable roles in commercial hits like Amar Akbar Anthony and Godmother, she continues to be a force to reckon with in the industry.