A biography for Shabana Azmihasn’t been written yet.
“It's only in India that you can have six couples going together on a honeymoon. I don't think it happens anywhere else in the world.”
“Terrorism should be struck down with an iron hand.”
“Vulgar lyrics and suggestive, voyeuristic camera angles do not celebrate a woman's sexuality, they actually objectify her.”
“I am extremely proud of the fact that I have acted in art films.”
“I like having family and friends around me. Our house is always overflowing with guests.”
“Women's health is not a niche issue - it impacts everyone in some way. That is why a collective effort to improve awareness and understanding of menstrual hygiene is key to closing the gender health gap.”
“Immunization protects India's children and, I stress, saves them from vaccine-preventable illnesses and deaths. Vaccines are not meant to harm our children.”
“Not belonging to any political party actually helps me because I value my independent voice above everything else, I treasure it.”
“In a patriarchal society like ours, women have to fight hard for a seat at the table. Boys are privileged over girls from birth. Equal opportunity and access for both girls and boys must become the norm.”
“Fear is a phenomena that each one of us faces, in different ways.”
“Smartphones have ensured connectivity like never before. We are bombarded with information on 24/7 television and other new sources. We are in constant touch with each other, communicating via technology.”
“People of Pakistan don't want a ban on Indian content in their country, but it is their politicians who want it. In our country too, politicians want to ban their art and artists.”
“At the age of seven, I wanted a doll with blonde hair and blue eyes like other girls in my class. But my father gave me a black doll and said 'black is beautiful.' Telling this to a seven-year-old was quite peculiar, but these were the values we inherited from him.”
“There is a dumbing down of the news. Newspapers today seem more like tabloids. I have to wade through seven newspapers before I can find a couple of paragraphs that are serious news. What a pity!”
“We need role models in our society that the youth can look up to because that space is shrinking.”
“I take up films only if I agree with the ultimate message the film conveys.”
“If you stay cocooned in your own safety net, you cannot grow as an actor. You need to be socially engaged and invested to hone your skills.”
“If the audience shows that it is interested in films portraying strong women, then the producers will be tempted to make such films.”
“Because I was involved in so many other areas of life and so many productive activities, I wasn't judged for not being a mother. There was no pressure on me for not having children.”
“Growing up, I was so sick of politics - it was in the house all the time - I was proud of not reading the newspaper.”