It’s an unusual situation for an actor. Come August 14, Shabana Azmi will have two of her films — Batwara 1947, also starring Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta, and Awarapan 2, led by Emraan Hashmi — clashing at the box office. Does that make the senior actor apprehensive about their box office fate?

“The box office is in nobody’s control,” said Azmi, matter-of-factly, before adding that she views it as an exciting coincidence. “What’s exciting is to be given the opportunity to do diametrically different roles. I am grateful for that. I don’t remember if it has happened to me earlier. I remember there was a time when I got four out of five nominations for a prestigious award!”

Besides Azmi and the release date, Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2 have almost nothing in common. While director Rajkumar Santoshi’s film is a Partition story, Nitin Kakkar’s directorial venture is an action drama. Many feel the audience prefers certain genres like action in the post-pandemic market, but Azmi is having none of that.

“I think we lose our nerve all too quickly. One film does well at the box office, and we rush to make only that kind of film! Instead of producing movies that lie in the cans, the government should create smaller theatres to facilitate a distribution network that guarantees release,” she stated.

So, which of the two does she think will leave a mark? She exclaimed, “That’s like asking me to choose between my children! I hope both [films] are impactful.”

Batwara 1947 is produced by Aamir Khan. While the superstar has a reputation of being creatively involved, the senior actor said, “He came on the sets only once as he trusted the director’s vision completely.”