Shabana on a judging spree

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi is so busy judging events that she hasn't met her husband Javed Akhtar for a week despite being in the same city.

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi is so busy judging events that she hasn't met her husband Javed Akhtar for a week despite being in the same city and he is upset with her.

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"And rightly so. We're in the same city and we haven't seen each other's face for nearly a week. It's okay if we were in different cities. But, come on, not meeting each other in the same city is a bit too much," Shabana told IANS.

But the situation is beyond the couple's control.

"I'm shooting non-stop for my reality show Jhoom India on Sahara while Javed is shooting for another reality show on another channel," said Shabana who went to Australia November 2 to be a member of the jury for the Asia-Pacific Film Festival.

But before that, in Mumbai, she judged the Deutsche Bank's Urban Age award attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"So it's three totally different events to do with television, cinema and society. I feel I should get one of those judge's capes and wig and hold a hammer in my hand and go, 'Order order'," she joked.

Why did she decide to do television at this juncture of her career?

"See, Jhoom India is not like the other music contests on television. Hats off to all these celebrities from various walks of life who aren't singers but are making an attempt to sing.

"It's one thing for me as an actor to try and sing in Anjuman many years ago and recently in Loins Of Punjab.... I only know how petrified and nervous I was. But imagine these professionals who've no experience in singing daring to take the mike.

"I admire any endeavour that pushes the individual beyond her limits," said the actress who learnt Carnatic music for her role in Morning Raga.

Last week Shabana shocked everyone by breaking into a jig on the show accompanied by Beedi jalay le number from Omkara.

"I shocked myself more than anyone else," she laughed.