Shabana Azmi’s looking for some headgear

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi is turning 60 years old today and she has already treated herself to a pre-birthday treat — the staging of the play Seven in Delhi yesterday. Shabana also reveals that actor Urmila Matondkar was the biggest brat during the rehearsals of the play. "The rehearsals were mostly held at my home and I would say that Urmila and I were the brattiest of the lot. I've known Urmila since very long and what makes us gel is that we don't get too serious about things. She is a lovely girl," says Shabana.
Ask Shabana what is the theme for her bash tonight and shelaughs, "Headgear."

She senses the confusion in the air and continues, "I didn't want to come up with a dress theme because every one wants to doll up and look pretty. So I thought of headgear to be the best option." However, she is in a fix now as she is still undecided about what headgear to sport for her own bash! "Yes. I have been getting calls from my friends asking if a bald head qualifies as headgear and things like that. But now I am struggling to find the right headgear for myself," she sighs.

Shabana shows no signs of retiring. On the contrary one gets to hear of her missing out on international roles because she was busy with many other assignments. Tell her this and she shoots, "I will never retire. If all the directors and producers in the world decide not to cast me, I might be an out of work actor but I will never willingly give up acting.  It's my identity."

And she assures us that she is only looking at the bright side of celebrating a milestone birthday. "Hema (Malini) called me and said, 'Welcome to the club. Life is not at all boring and dull but has lots to offer and we just have to explore it.' Those are my thoughts exactly," she says. After the bash, Shabana and her lyricist husband Javed Akhtar will get busy with another play, based on her parent's life. Ask her who she thinks will be apt to play Javed and her in a play and she instantly says, "Tabu can easily step into my shoes and only Farhan (Akhtar) can portray his father. He has his father's mannerisms, wit, humour and body language too."