Mumbai: Shabana Azmi, one of Indian cinema’s most respected and celebrated actors, is ready to surprise audiences yet again. In a career spanning over 55 years, the veteran performer has never portrayed a full fledged negative character. That old trend is going to shift with Awarapan 2, in which she has been portrayed as the villain in the film.
The movie, directed by Nitin Kakkar, has been a landmark in the career of Shabana Azmi, both professionally and emotionally. It is one of the most discussed casting decisions ever, and fans and film enthusiasts have become curious about the announcement.
A Long Awaited Moral Shift
Currently shooting in London for a confidential project, Shabana Azmi took time out to speak about her surprising new role. Reacting with humour when asked about it, she admitted that playing a villain feels like a complete moral about turn for her.
The actor added that though she has portrayed a morally compromised role several years ago in B R Ishaara in the episode of Log Kya Kahenge when she had killed her stepson, she had never been in the position of a villain. Describing the experience as fun and emancipating, she made fun of finally having an opportunity to experience the dark side of storytelling, even mentioning the legendary Mogambo of Mr India in jest.
A Year of Firsts and Emotional Challenges
The year 2025 has turned out to be one of exploration and reinvention for the actor. Other than Awarapan 2, Shabana Azmi will also be working with Sunny Deol and director Raj Kumar Santoshi in the impending movie Lahore 1947.
Talking about the project, she revealed that it demanded intense emotional depth. Shabana says that she has never cried as much in an actual screen as she did in this film and that her character was one who is always overcome with grief. Although the film Lahore 1947 is yet to be released, it is produced by Aamir Khan, which makes the film even more expected.
About Awarapan 2
Awarapan 2 is the sequel to the 2007 cult film Awarapan, which starred Emraan Hashmi and gained popularity over the years for its music and emotional storytelling. The sequel is being directed by Nitin Kakkar and promises to take the narrative into a darker and more complex space. Although the plot details are still under seal, the movie should be able to touch upon such burning themes as redemption, morality and inner conflict. The casting of Shabana Azmi as the villain also carries with it a lot of weight to the venture and points to a new era of boldness in the franchise.
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