I’ve always had an independent relationship with Adhuna: Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi never ceases to surprise. Throughout her career as an actress and later, as an activist, she has re-invented herself and invested her energies into creating a new cinema and civilisation. This year, she has already been seen in one film and will be seen in Neerja as a mother to Sonam Kapoor. Here she talks about the film, family and more... 

Neerja gives you a chance to play mom to Sonam whose family you’ve been closely associated with. Comment. 
Anil Kapoor and Sunita are long-standing friends of mine. I love the fact that our kids are working with each other and also inter-generationally! That’s how the film industry grows closer together as a family. As a teenager, Sonam expressed her interest in acting. Anil was very concerned and sent her to me to give her a reality check and encourage her to go abroad for further studies. Instead I asked her to pursue her dream and do what she wanted! 

There is a heated debate in the country about growing intolerance. Do you think it is right for actors to comment on the issue? 
In a democracy, every citizen has the right to comment on everything. Intolerance has always existed and will continue to do so. Socrates was forced to drink hemlock, Galileo had to take back his words. I find it curious that if someone remarks there is growing intolerance, the person is branded as anti-national!! Kyun bhai? I love my country, but can I not say that Dharavi is the largest slum in Asia? When the PM says that we must work for Swachh Bharat, is he anti-national for implying that our insensitivity to uncleanliness and filth needs to change?!! 

You’ve worked towards building a Swachh Bharat for most of your adult life. How much of the convictions and issues that you have stood up for all your life has actualized in our society? 
I’m an optimist and I always see the glass as half-full. India is a country that lives in several centuries simultaneously and is full of contradictions. So although a lot has improved on theposition of women and slumdwellers, there is a lot more to be done. Abba (father Kaifi Azmi) had told me, ‘When you are working for change, you need to build into that expectation the possibility that change might not occur within your lifetime. But if you carry on working sincerely and with dedication, change will happen even if it does so after you are gone’. That is my mantra for working towards change. Transformation is a very slow process and one must keep at it without expecting instant gratification. 

Farhan recently announced his separation from wife, Adhuna. How has this affected your friendship with her?
I’ve always had an independent healthy relationship with Adhuna and it will always remain so. 

Why do you think so many marriages arefalling apart in the film industry? 
Marriages are not just falling apart in the film industry, but also in many sections of society. Expectations from marriage are changing. When I asked Zoya, she said, ‘Because today women can, they have a choice and they exercise it. Marriage is not a one-way street. Both partners have to adjust to each other. The concept of made-in-heaven is defunct. 

Future plans? 
I want to do more of the same thing. Work in movies theatre and TV, continue to address universities like Harvard, Columbia, Wharton, Princeton, etc, which I’ve been doing for a decade now, carry my NGO Mijwan to greater  heights and work on affordable housing.