I’d be able to convince Spielberg, not Farhan and Zoya: Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi, who is yet to be seen in any of Farhan and Zoya Akhtar’s films apart from Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, is keen to have either of them direct one of her future projects. She, however, jokes that it would be easier to get a Steven Spielberg film than be picked for a substantial role in one of their ventures.

Shabana Azmi, who is yet to be seen in any of

HT Image

Farhan

and

Zoya Akhtar

’s films apart from Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd (2007; a movie in which she had a role), is keen to have either of them direct one of her future projects.

She, however, jokes that it would be easier to get a Steven Spielberg film than be picked for a substantial role in one of their ventures.

"I’d be able to convince Spielberg to take me in a film, but not Farhan and Zoya. They will approach me only when they think they have a role for me. I would love to (be part of their films) because I think they are extremely talented and I am proud of both of them," says Azmi.

Films have taken a backseat for a while now, as she is waiting for the right role and says that its length is not a criterion while considering a project.

"It doesn’t need to be a big role, but it has to be a challenge. I am waiting for that to happen. Also, it’s not like I won’t do commercial cinema or would do only certain kinds of roles," she says.

Till then, Azmi is happy travelling with her plays, but maintains that she will no longer be part of her famous production, Tumhari Amrita, as she can’t work on it with someone else after co-actor Farooq Sheikh’s demise in December last year.

Read: Shabana Azmi, Sarika remember Farooq Sheikh

"After having shared the stage with Farooq for 21 years, I can’t perform with anyone else," she says.

Ask her if the play will no longer be staged, and she says, "I will persuade Feroz (Abbas Khan, director) to stage it with new people. Right now, it’s too raw a subject for Feroz, but it’s such a beautiful play that it shouldn’t be wrapped up."