Tabu

Tabassum Fatima Hashmi (born 4 November 1971), credited as Tabu, is an Indian actress who works primarily in Hindi films. Regarded as one of the most accomplished actresses in Hindi cinema, she has often played troubled women, from fictional to literary, in both mainstream and independent cinema. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two National Film Awards, seven Filmfare Awards (including a record five Critics Awards for Best Actress), and two Filmfare Awards South. In 2011, she was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian honour.

Tabu had her first credited role as a teenager in Dev Anand's Hum Naujawan (1985) and played her first leading role in the Telugu film Coolie No. 1 (1991). In 1994, she received the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for the Hindi action drama Vijaypath. She won the National Film Award for Best Actress for playing a young woman affected by the Punjab insurgency in the political thriller Maachis (1996). Also in 1996, she had commercial successes in Ninne Pelladata, Kadhal Desam, Saajan Chale Sasural and Jeet. Further box office hits came with Iruvar (1997), Border (1997), Biwi No.1 (1999), Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999), Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) and Hera Pheri (2000).

Tabu gained acclaim for portraying troubled women in Virasat (1997), Hu Tu Tu (1999), and Astitva (2000), all of which won her Filmfare Critics Awards; and Chandni Bar (2001) which earned her a second National Film Award. This acclaim continued with the films Maqbool (2004), Cheeni Kum (2007), which won her a record fourth Filmfare Critics Award, and Haider (2014), which earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Tabu expanded to American cinema with The Namesake (2006) and Life of Pi (2012). Her biggest commercial successes in India came with Drishyam (2015), Golmaal Again (2017), Andhadhun (2018), De De Pyaar De (2019), Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020), Drishyam 2 (2022) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), for which she won her fifth Filmfare Critics Award.

Tabassum Fatima Hashmi was born on 4 November 1971 to Jamal Ali Hashmi and Rizwana in a Hyderabadi Muslim family. Her father was an actor in Pakistan, with some well-received roles in the 1970s, who moved to India in order to live with her mother. He left the family when she was three. Her mother was a school-teacher and her maternal grandparents were retired professors who ran a school. Her grandfather, Mohammed Ahsan, was a professor of mathematics, and her grandmother was a professor of English Literature.

Tabu did her schooling at St. Ann's High School, Vijayanagar Colony, Hyderabad. She moved to Mumbai in 1983 and studied at St. Xavier's College for 2 years. She is the niece of Shabana Azmi, Tanvi Azmi and Baba Azmi and the younger sister of actress Farah Naaz. She is reluctant to discuss her personal life in the media.

Debut and breakthrough (1982–1999)

As a child, Tabu had an uncredited appearance at the age of 11 in Bazaar (1982), and later in Hum Naujawan (1985) at the age of 14; she played Dev Anand's daughter in the film. Her first role as an actress was in the Telugu film Coolie No.1 (1991) co-starring with Venkatesh. In December 1987, producer Boney Kapoor launched two major films; Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja and Prem, in which Tabu was signed opposite Sanjay Kapoor, Boney's younger brother.

Tabu's first release in Hindi as a leading lady was Pehla Pehla Pyar (1994), which went unnoticed. She rose to prominence with her role in Vijaypath (1994) opposite Ajay Devgan, for which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. In the following year, significant appearances included her role in the box-office success Haqeeqat (1995) and the romantic drama film Saajan Ki Baahon Mein (1995) alongside Rishi Kapoor and Raveena Tandon.

In 1996, Tabu had eight releases. two of which – Saajan Chale Sasural and Jeet– emerged as commercial successes, ranking in the top five films of that year, receiving her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the latter. Her other significant film, the political thriller Maachis, was critically acclaimed. Her role as a Punjabi woman caught in the rise of Sikh insurgency was highly acclaimed; she went on to win her first National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance, in addition to her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. The same year saw her star in major blockbuster films down south. She starred in the Telugu blockbuster Ninne Pelladata, opposite Nagarjuna, a film which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, winning the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance. Anupama Chopra wrote that she was "breathtakingly sensuous" in the part. The critically acclaimed Malayalam period epic film Kaalapani directed by Priyadarshan brought her laurels for her acting from all across South India. She also debuted in Tamil cinema (Kollywood) through the highly successful Tamil film Kadhal Desam, directed by Kathir.

Tabu's first release of 1997 was Border, an ensemble war drama about the real-life events surrounding the Battle of Longewala during the Indo-Pak War of 1971, playing the role of Sunny Deol's wife. Her role was brief, but the film went on to be the second-biggest hit of 1997 after Dil To Pagal Hai. That year, she also starred in the critically acclaimed film Virasat. The film was a success at the box office and Tabu won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for her performance in the film, in addition to her second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. The same year saw her feature in Mani Ratnam's Tamil political drama Iruvar which had an ensemble cast including Mohanlal, Aishwarya Rai, Prakash Raj and Gautami. She also appeared in Chachi 420 (1998).

In 1999, she starred in two successful multi-starrers; the comedy Biwi No.1 and the family drama Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United, which went to become the second highest-grossing, and the highest-grossing films of the year respectively. She also received widespread critical acclaim for her performance in the drama Hu Tu Tu, with critics describing her presence as the "most mesmerising and eloquent". She won her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics), in addition to her third nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance.

Expansion (2000–2009)

In 2000, Tabu starred in the comedy Hera Pheri and the drama Astitva. The former was a box-office success, whilst the latter was critically acclaimed. Hindustan Times critic Arnab Banerjee wrote of her performance: "Tabu is brilliant and once again proves her mettle as an actress. The mind-blowing range of emotions she displays, her exquisite face and her subtle quiet dignity with which she handles her character, will take her far in her film career." She received her third Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for Astitva, in addition to her fourth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Down south, Tabu had two releases in Tamil, namely Kandukondain Kandukondain, a multi-starrer blockbuster film directed by Rajeev Menon and she starred with Mammootty, Ajith Kumar and Aishwarya Rai; and Snegithiye directed by Priyadarshan, along with a Malayalam release Cover Story opposite Suresh Gopi. The original Malayalam version of Snegithiye, titled Raakilipattu released in 2007.

In 2001, Tabu starred in Madhur Bhandarkar's Chandni Bar as a bar dancer. She was Bhandarkar's "first and last" choice for the role, but it took 45 days to secure a meeting with her to discuss the film. The film received critical acclaim, and Tabu received her second National Film Award for Best Actress and a fifth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Critic Taran Adarsh said: "Chandni Bar is Tabu's film all the way and there are no two opinions on that. Her performance deserves the highest marks and of course, all the awards. Her work is flawless and the impact her character makes on the minds of the viewer is also due to a tailor-made role". A Rediff.com critic wrote, "if there is one actress who can carry a film on her shoulders, it is Tabu. As usual, she sparkles!"

She has acted in a number of Telugu films, many of them very successful, such as Coolie No. 1 (1991) and Ninne Pelladutha (1996), the latter being one of her most famous and popular films. She further continued to star in films such as Aavida Maa Aavide (1998) with Nagarjuna, Chennakeshava Reddy (2002) and Pandurangadu (2008) with Nandamuri Balakrishna and Andarivaadu (2005) with Chiranjeevi. Tabu made a comeback into Telugu films after a long hiatus with the film Pandurangudu in 2008, for which she earned her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu. Her roles in Telugu films are largely eye-candy and glamorous.

In 2003, Tabu starred in an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. The actress played Nimmi based on the character Lady Macbeth. The film, titled Maqbool, was directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and premiered at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. Maqbool was a box-office failure, but was met with high acclaim. Tabu's performance opened to widespread critical acclaim; critic Ron Ahluwalia said: "Tabu shines in a dark role. The most versatile actress in Bollywood takes to villainy like second nature. She is menacing and seductive, but keeps an innocent look on her face, making her even viler. The way Tabu delivers her taunts is simply perfect. Her gradual insanity is heart-wrenching and her final outburst is easily the highlight of the film." Another critic said: "Tabu is fantastic in a complex role. Her performance in the film is worthy of awards. After Chandni Bar, this is another role that will be remembered for a long, long time."

She played the supporting role of a RAW officer in Fanaa (2006), alongside Aamir Khan and Kajol. The film went on to become the sixth highest-grossing film of the year. The same year, she starred in her first Hollywood film The Namesake, directed by Mira Nair. The film was a big hit overseas, and she received positive reviews for her performance.

In 2007, she starred in the romantic comedy Cheeni Kum, in which she played a 34-year-old food critic who falls in love with a 64-year-old chef played by Amitabh Bachchan. The film received positive reviews from critics; Taran Adarsh said: "Tabu stands on her feet despite a formidable co-star's domineering presence. She's excellent." Though the film was moderately successful in the domestic market, it performed well overseas, especially in UK and US. She received her record-setting fourth Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for her performance in the film.

Further career, acclaim and commercial success (2010–2019)

In 2010, Tabu portrayed the lead role in the romantic comedy film Toh Baat Pakki!, which earned huge publicity as it marked Tabu's return to Bollywood after 3 years. However, the film was a commercial failure. Her next release of the year was Khuda Kasam opposite Sunny Deol, a film long-delayed. Her other film Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai, directed by B. R. Chopra, got indefinitely shelved owing to the plagiarism issues. She made a comeback to Malayalam cinema in 2011 with her brief song appearance in the multi starrer film Urumi, directed by Santosh Sivan.

In 2012, she featured in her second Hollywood film Life of Pi, directed by Ang Lee. She played a supporting role as the mother of the protagonist. Tabu's sole release of 2013 was in the crime thriller David, co-starring Vikram and directed by Bejoy Nambiar. The year 2014 saw her comeback to mainstream commercial cinema with the Salman Khan-starrer Jai Ho, a remake of the Telugu film Stalin, playing the elder sister role to Khan. The film was subject to mixed reception and but was successful commercially. Following this, she reunited with Vishal Bhardwaj for his adaptation film of Shakespeare's Hamlet, titled Haider. Initially hesitant on playing a mother to Kapoor, Tabu rejected the role, prompting Bhardwaj to stress the character's importance to the plot, ultimately convincing her. In the adaptation, she portrayed the role of Ghazala Meer based on Gertrude to Shahid Kapoor's Haider (Hamlet). Haider emerged as a major critical and commercial success along with unanimous acclaim for Tabu's performance. The New York Times'Rachel Saltz joked that the film should have been titled Ghazala, rather than Haider. She earned the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her next venture, Drishyam (2015), saw her alongside Devgn after 16 years. The film, directed by Nishikant Kamat, was a remake of the acclaimed Malayalam film with the same name. Her portrayal of a police officer investigating her son's murder case received critical acclaim, thus earning her third nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. This was followed by a cameo appearance in Meghna Gulzar's directorial Talvar.

Tabu then starred in Abhishek Kapoor's musical romantic drama Fitoor (2016), an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, opposite Aditya Roy Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, in which she essayed the role of Begum Hazrat, based on the character of Miss Havisham. Although the film underperformed at the box office and was panned by critics, her performance was considered a highlight. Saltz noted that Tabu's performance wasn't her "finest" in comparison to those in her other English tragedies, but added that "with her great tragedienne’s face she can express loss with just a gaze". Breaking from her mould of serious cinema, in 2017, Tabu starred in the fourth edition of Rohit Shetty's Golmaal (film series), Golmaal Again. She expressed her admiration for Shetty's work as the key reason as to why she chose to star in the film. Her portrayal of a ghostbuster drew critical praise with The Indian Express saying that her inclusion to the film is an "unexpected pleasure" and she "lifts" the film. Golmaal Again became one of the highest-grossing films of the year.

Her first release of 2018 was Mukul Abhyankar's thriller, Missing, opposite Manoj Bajpai. Though her portrayal of a petrified mother was praised, the film underperformed at the box office. She followed this with a cameo role in Rajkumar Hirani's biopic Sanju starring Ranbir Kapoor. A major turning point in her career came with Sriram Raghavan'sblack comedy crime thriller Andhadhun which saw her as the parallel lead alongside Ayushmann Khurrana. The film, along with her performance, received unanimous critical acclaim. The Hindustan Times lauded Tabu asking, "Has there ever been a femme as fatal as Tabu?" Critic Rajeev Masand praised Tabu's portrayal, lauding her as "the film's towering performance". With a gross of over ₹457 crore (US$64.9 million), the film emerged her highest grosser and earned her a sixth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, and fifth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics). In 2019, she starred in Akiv Ali's romantic comedy, De De Pyaar De alongside Devgn as his ex-wife. Despite otherwise disliking the film, Rediff.com's Sukanya Verma described the film as "watchable" due to Tabu's presence, adding that "everything about her feels right". She then played a supporting role in Ali Abbas Zafar's drama Bharat starring Salman Khan and Kaif as Khan's missing younger sister.

Recent work (2020–present)

In 2020, she made a comeback in Telugu films after a decade with Trivikram Srivas's Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo as Allu Arjun's mother. The film went on to become one of the highest grossing Indian films of 2020 and Tabu's portrayal was greatly commended, thus winning her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu. She has also starred in a family entertainer titled Jawaani Jaaneman (2020) co-starring Saif Ali Khan with whom she shared screen space after 2 decades. Critics said she "shines" in her brief role.

In 2022, she received high critical acclaim for portraying a double role in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, a horror comedy by Anees Bazmee, which garnered the highest box office opening amongst Hindi films of 2022. Several critics stated that Tabu "stole the show". Her performance in the film earned her a seventh nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, and a record-setting fifth Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics). Later that year, she starred in the sequel to Drishyam, Drishyam 2, directed by Abhishek Pathak. It became a major critical and commercial success, thus becoming the highest-grossing film of her career.

In 2023, Tabu first portrayed a police officer in Kuttey. Her performance garnered critical acclaim, with critics labelling her as "stunning" and praising her "unblemished performance". Tabu also appeared alongside Devgn in action-adventure film Bholaa, which has proved to be a commercial success after entering the 100 crore club. The same year, she appeared in Vishal Bhardwaj's spy thriller Khufiya, as an operative of an intelligence agency.

Tabu will next appear in Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha alongside Ajay Devgan. Tabu is also set to star in Crew, co-starring Kareena Kapoor and Kriti Sanon.

Tabu is among the most accomplished actresses in Hindi cinema, known for her work in both mainstream and independent cinema. India Today noted that her "uncontrived freshness" and "mobile face" has become a Bollywood favourite, while her performances speak of "a considerable range". Filmfare noted, "When you find her name on the credit list of a movie, expectations automatically shoot up." Forbes noted that Tabu portrayed "strong women-oriented characters" much before such roles started being called "game-changers". Vogue noted that Tabu has delivered "non-stop stellar and heart-swooning performances." Eastern Eye termed her a "versatile performer" and said, "Tabu is regularly called upon to add weight to commercial blockbusters."

Members of the Indian film industry have often commented on Tabu's beauty and talent. Lyricist Gulzar hailed Tabu as "the beginning of a new era" and "a thinking actress in the mould of Nargis, Nutan and Meena Kumari". For filmmaker Karan Johar, Tabu is "truly the country's greatest actor", as well as "versatile", "adaptive" and "timeless". Calling her an inspiration, actress Kangana Ranaut stated that Tabu is "slaying in her 50s" and "single-handedly saving the Hindi film industry". Actress Mrunal Thakur commented, "I look up to Tabu ma'am and she is the goddess I worship." Kiara Advani, her Bhool Bhulaiyya 2 co-star, called Tabu the "golden girl" of the Indian film industry, and actress Katrina Kaif called Tabu "most beautiful". Tabu's Haider co-star, Shahid Kapoor, found her to be "one of the finest actresses".

Known to be selective about her film roles, Tabu once said, "I do films which move me and most of all, the unit and the director should appeal to me." In 2019, at the 17th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles she was honoured with "Opening Night Tribute". In 2019, Film Companion ranked Tabu's performance in Haider and Andhadhun among the 100 Greatest Performances of the Decade. India Today named her in their "Top Bollywood Actresses" list. She was placed in Filmfare's "Top Ten Actresses" of 2003. In Rediff.com's "Top Ten Actresses" list, she ranked 9th in 2007. She topped the list in 2014 and 2018. In 1998, Tabu received the Smita Patil Memorial Award for Best Actress, for her contribution to Indian cinema. Forbes India included Tabu in its "50 Showstoppers" list of 2022.

In 1998, Tabu was charged with poaching two blackbucks on the outskirts of Kankani village in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain along with co-stars Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre and Neelam Kothari. A lower court charged her with the others under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the IPC. She had filed a revision petition before a sessions court which discharged her of Section 51 (causing harm to wildlife) of Wildlife Act and both of 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly of persons) of the Indian Penal Code. The Rajasthan State Government then filed a revision petition before the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur which again added Section 149 against her, which had been dropped earlier. In December 2012, the Jodhpur court summoned her along with all the accused for commencement of the trial with the revised charges on 4 February 2013. Although Tabu was acquitted in the blackbuck poaching case on 5 April 2018, the Rajasthan High Court issued her with a notice, challenging her acquittal on 11 March 2019.

Tabu received the National Film Award for Best Actress for Maachis and Chandni Bar. She received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for Virasat, Hu Tu Tu, Astitva, Cheeni Kum and Bhool Bhulaiyya 2, along with Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Haider, and the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for Vijaypath. She was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, by the Government of India for her contributions towards the arts in 2011.