TL;DR
Despite decades of fame, veteran actress Shabana Azmi still felt exposed and humiliated on set, exposing the industry's lack of protective measures for actors.
Shabana Azmi is a legend of Indian cinema, with over 160 films and a record five National Film Awards. But a recent recollection shows a less glamorous side of her career.
In the film 'Batwara 1947', she plays an elderly Hindu woman refusing to leave her home. In one scene, a mob rips her clothes. As she lies on the ground, every assistant rushes to the monitor to check the shot—no one comes to cover her.
She felt humiliated and helpless, as if stripped bare. Then co-star Sunny Deol came over and draped a cloth over her, making her feel protected.
Such incidents are not rare in the Hindi film industry. Azmi recalls that there were no intimacy coordinators back then; no one asked if a touch was okay. With actors shooting twelve films at once, there was hardly time to care.
Sensitivity needs a director's insight
Even on her debut film 'Ankur', director Shyam Benegal made her walk around the village in costume for three days to absorb the environment. Her realistic crouching and eating even convinced visitors she was a maid—his way of ensuring authenticity.
But directors could also overstep. During a rape scene in 'Nishant', Benegal shouted for her to unbutton her blouse, and she broke down crying, feeling like an object. He apologized, and it never happened again in 40 years.
Vulnerability knows no seniority
Azmi says even after 50 years, certain moments still trigger vulnerability, and one's insecurities do not fade with experience. She praises the growing awareness of actor protection and hopes younger actors receive more care.
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