In a career spanning over four decades, Shabana Azmi has been seen in a wide range of roles, and several of them focused on social issues and were applauded for being brave attempts at bringing taboo subjects onto the big screen. Recently, she featured in the short film Sheer Qorma along with Swara Bhasker and Divya Dutta. The film directed by Faraz Arif Ansari focuses on the relationship of a same-sex couple — played Swara and Divya, and how love is judged in society based on gender and sexuality. The film, which has been screened and appreciated at various film festivals, won Best Short Film Audience Award at the Frameline Fest and has also qualified for the BAFTA this year.

Shabana says, “Divya Dutta, who is a dear friend, spoke to me about the film, and I liked the script. When I met Faraz, I knew I had made the right decision. To have Divya and Swara as co-actors was a bonus. The attitude of the mother I play reflects most of society’s attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community. The film succeeds in making the audience see the protagonists as people who are in love.”

Shabana has previously featured in Deepa Mehta’s film Fire (1996), which focused on two women who form an intimate bond. The actress says, “Fire was made 25 years ago, and although the climate around the LGBTQ+ community has softened, a lot more needs to be done. For me, acceptance of who you consider 'the others' — the other race, religion and nation — is needed. Tolerance is different from acceptance. We are enriched when we accept diversity and stop judging people through prejudiced eyes. I remember watching Wong Kar-wai’s Happy Together (1997), and it was so refreshing to have the two male leads presented normally.”