Shabana Turns Villain for the First Time

In her 55-year acting career, Shabana Azmi never played a negative character — until now. Director Nitin Kakkar has cast her as the villain in his Awarapan 2.

Initially surprised and reluctant to speak about the project when approached, Shabana—currently shooting in London—eventually acknowledges the development, despite details being kept tightly under wraps. “I always wanted to play the villain. Actually, I did play a morally compromised character years back in B R Ishaara’s Log Kya Kehenge. I was cast as a woman who kills her stepson. But I’ve never played a villain. So yes, it is fun. Mogambo khush hua,” she jokes, referencing the iconic villain Mogambo in Mr India.

For Shabana, 2025 was a year of renewed challenges. “I got to work with Sunny Deol and (director) Raj Kumar Santoshi for the first time in Lahore 1947. I have never cried so much on screen before. The woman just weeps and weeps.” Asked when the film would be released, she said, “You will have to ask the producer Aamir Khan.”