Tabu (actress)
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Tabassum Fatima Hashmi (born 4 November 1971), known professionally as Tabu, is an Indian actress who works primarily in
Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
and Telugu films. Regarded as one of Hindi cinema's most accomplished actresses, she has often played troubled women, from fictional to literary, in both mainstream and independent cinema. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including two
National Film Awards The National Film Awards are awards for artistic and technical merit given for "Excellence within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry". Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India ...
, seven
Filmfare Awards The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Indian cinema.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were introduced by Filmfare magazine of The Times G ...
(includes a record five Critics Awards for Best Actress), and two
Filmfare Awards South The Filmfare Awards South are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, Malayalam cinema and Kannada cinema. They are presented by ''Filmfare'' magazine of The Times Group. When it was intr ...
. In 2011, she was awarded the
Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...
, the fourth highest Indian civilian honour.Padma Awards Announced
. Ministry of Home Affairs. 25 January 2011
Tabu had her first credited role as a teenager in
Dev Anand Dev Anand (; born Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand; 26 September 1923 – 3 December 2011) was an Indian actor, writer, director and producer known for his work in Indian cinema, Hindi cinema. He is considered as one of the greatest and most succes ...
's '' Hum Naujawan'' (1985) and played her first leading role in the Telugu film '' Coolie No. 1'' (1991). In 1994, she received the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for the Hindi action drama '' Vijaypath''. She won the
National Film Award for Best Actress The National Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role is an honour presented annually at the National Film Awards of India since 1968 to an actress for the best performance in a leading role within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry. ...
for playing a young woman affected by the
Punjab insurgency The Insurgency in Punjab was an armed campaign by the separatists of the Khalistan movement from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. Economic and social pressures driven by the Green Revolution prompted calls for Sikh autonomy and separatism. This ...
in the political thriller ''
Maachis ''Maachis'' () is a 1996 Indian Hindi-language period political thriller film written and directed by Gulzar. The film stars Chandrachur Singh, Om Puri, Tabu, and Jimmy Sheirgill. The film is set against the backdrop of the Sikh insurgency ...
'' (1996). Also in 1996, she had commercial successes in '' Ninne Pelladata'', '' Kadhal Desam'', '' Saajan Chale Sasural'' and '' Jeet''. Further box-office hits came with the dramas ''
Iruvar ''Iruvar'' () is a 1997 Indian Tamil-language epic political drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Mani Ratnam. The film, inspired by the lives of M. G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa, is set against the backdrop ...
'', ''
Border Borders are generally defined as geography, geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by polity, political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other administrative divisio ...
'' (both 1997), ''
Biwi No.1 ''Biwi No.1'' () is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by David Dhawan, being a remake of the 1995 Tamil language, Tamil film ''Sathi Leelavathi (1995 film), Sathi Leelavathi''. It stars Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, ...
'', '' Hum Saath-Saath Hain'' (both 1999), '' Kandukondain Kandukondain'', and '' Hera Pheri'' (both 2000). Tabu gained acclaim for portraying troubled women in '' Virasat'' (1997), ''
Hu Tu Tu ''Hu Tu Tu'' is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Gulzar, starring Nana Patekar, Sunil Shetty, Tabu and Suhasini Mulay. Plot The story opens with the kidnapping of Panna Barve, the daughter of Chief Minister Malti Barve. T ...
'' (1999), and ''
Astitva ''Astitva'' () is a 2000 Indian film made simultaneously in Marathi and Hindi languages, written and directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. The film tells the story of Aditi Pandit, a happily married woman whose husband Srikant Pandit becomes suspicious w ...
'' (2000), all of which won her Filmfare Critics' Awards; and as a bar dancer in '' Chandni Bar'' (2001) which earned her a second National Film Award. This acclaim continued with her roles in the romantic comedy '' Cheeni Kum'' (2007) which earned her a record fourth Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress, and the
Vishal Bhardwaj Vishal Bhardwaj (born 4 August 1965) is an Indian filmmaker, music composer, and playback singer. He is known for his work in Hindi cinema, and is the recipient of nine National Film Awards and a Filmfare Award. Bhardwaj made his debut as a mu ...
-directed Shakespearean tragedies—'' Maqbool'' (2004) and '' Haider'' (2014), the latter earning her the
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress The Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress is given by ''Filmfare'' as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role. Although the Filmfare ...
. Tabu expanded to American cinema with '' The Namesake'' (2006) and '' Life of Pi'' (2012). Her biggest commercial successes in India came with the comedies '' Golmaal Again'' (2017), '' Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'' (2022)—for which she earned the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics)—and ''Crew'' (2024), the action drama '' Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo'' (2020), and the crime thrillers '' Andhadhun'' (2018) and '' Drishyam 2'' (2022).


Early and personal life

Tabassum Fatima Hashmi was born on 4 November 1971 to Jamal Ali Hashmi and Rizwana in a Hyderabadi Muslim family. Her father was an actor in
Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
, with some well-received roles in the 1970s, who moved back to India in order to live with her mother. He left the family when she was three. She has an older sister, Farah, who is also an actor. Her mother was a school-teacher and her maternal grandparents were retired professors who ran a school. Her grandfather, Mohammed Ahsan, was a professor of mathematics, and her grandmother was a professor of English Literature. Tabu did her schooling at St. Ann's High School, Vijayanagar Colony, Hyderabad. She moved to
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
in 1983 and studied at St. Xavier's College for 2 years. She is the niece of
Shabana Azmi Shabana Azmi (born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. Her career in the Hindi cinema, Hindi film industry has spanned Shabana Azmi filmography, over 160 films, mostly within independent and neorealist paral ...
, Tanvi Azmi and Baba Azmi. She has been reluctant to discuss her family life in the media.The Dynamic Dynasties: What would the world of films be without them?
Screen, 22 September 2000.
As a child, Tabu had an uncredited appearance at the age of 11 in ''
Bazaar A bazaar or souk is a marketplace consisting of multiple small Market stall, stalls or shops, especially in the Middle East, the Balkans, Central Asia, North Africa and South Asia. They are traditionally located in vaulted or covered streets th ...
'' (1982), and at the age of 14, she appeared in '' Hum Naujawan'' (1985), in which she played
Dev Anand Dev Anand (; born Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand; 26 September 1923 – 3 December 2011) was an Indian actor, writer, director and producer known for his work in Indian cinema, Hindi cinema. He is considered as one of the greatest and most succes ...
's daughter. Tabu's personal life has been subject to substantial media speculation due to her decision to remain unmarried unlike most of her contemporaries and has remained reticent when asked about her choice. When asked about her decision, Tabu stated that she "was working and wanted to see the world on erown. If I'd given it all up, it'd have been a disservice to me and my abilities. An ideal relationship is when both individuals grow by being in each other's lives. Relationships are meant to liberate, not stifle".


Career


Debut and breakthrough (1991–1999)

In 1987, producer Boney Kapoor launched two major films: '' Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja'' and '' Prem,'' in which Tabu was signed opposite Sanjay Kapoor, Boney's younger brother. Tabu made her debut in
Telugu cinema Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to the production of Film, motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Based in Film N ...
with '' Coolie No.1'' (1991) co-starring Venkatesh. The film was a major box-office success. Tabu's first release in Hindi as a leading lady was in the romantic drama '' Pehla Pehla Pyar'' (1994), which generally went unnoticed. However, a turning point in her career came with action film '' Vijaypath'' (1994) opposite
Ajay Devgn Vishal Veeru Devgan (born 2 April 1969), known professionally as Ajay Devgn, is an Indian actor, film director, and producer. One of the most prolific actors of Hindi cinema, Devgn has appeared in over Ajay Devgn filmography, 100 films and ha ...
, for which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. The film marked the first of numerous collaborations with Devgn. In the following year, significant appearances for Tabu included her role in the box-office success '' Haqeeqat'' and the romantic drama film '' Saajan Ki Baahon Mein'' alongside
Rishi Kapoor Rishi Kapoor (4 September 1952 – 30 April 2020) was an Indian actor, film director, and producer who worked in Hindi films. In a career spanning 50 years, he is regarded as one of the most successful and accomplished actors in Hindi cinema. ...
and
Raveena Tandon Raveena Tandon (born 26 October 1972) is an Indian actress primarily known for her work in Hindi films. Considered as one of the leading actresses of the 1990s and early 2000s, Tandon is a recipient of several awards, including a National Film ...
. In 1996, Tabu had eight releases, two of which—'' Saajan Chale Sasural'' and '' Jeet—''emerged as commercial successes and ranked among the top five highest-grossing films of that year.' For the latter, she received her first nomination for the
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress The Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress is given by ''Filmfare'' as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role. Although the Filmfare ...
. She was also seen in
Gulzar Gulzar (born Sampooran Singh Kalra; 18 August 1934) is an Indian Urdu poetry, Urdu poet, lyricist, author, screenwriter, and film director known for his works in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of greatest Urdu poets of this era. He starte ...
's critically acclaimed political thriller ''
Maachis ''Maachis'' () is a 1996 Indian Hindi-language period political thriller film written and directed by Gulzar. The film stars Chandrachur Singh, Om Puri, Tabu, and Jimmy Sheirgill. The film is set against the backdrop of the Sikh insurgency ...
'' opposite Chandrachur Singh. Her role as a Punjabi woman caught in the rise of Sikh insurgency earned unanimous critical claim; she earned her first
National Film Award for Best Actress The National Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role is an honour presented annually at the National Film Awards of India since 1968 to an actress for the best performance in a leading role within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry. ...
for her performance, in addition to her first nomination for the
Filmfare Award for Best Actress The Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by '' Filmfare'' as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise the female performer who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in ...
. Tabu considered the film a turning point in her career, as it helped her recognise her potential as an actress despite her initial hesitation in accepting the role due to its serious subject matter. She followed this with a role opposite
Nagarjuna Nāgārjuna (Sanskrit: नागार्जुन, ''Nāgārjuna''; ) was an Indian monk and Mahayana, Mahāyāna Buddhist Philosophy, philosopher of the Madhyamaka (Centrism, Middle Way) school. He is widely considered one of the most importa ...
in '' Ninne Pelladutha'' (1996), the highest-grossing Telugu film at the time of its release. For her performance, she earned her first Filmfare award for Best Actress – Telugu.
Anupama Chopra Anupama Vinod Chopra () is an Indian author, journalist and film critic who served as the festival director of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival from 2015 to 2023. She is also the founder and editor of the now-de ...
described her as "breathtakingly sensuous". This acclaim continued with the
Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...
period epic '' Kaalapani'', directed by
Priyadarshan Priyadarshan Soman Nair (born 30 January 1957) is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He has worked primarily in Malayalam cinema, Malayalam and Hindi cinema, Hindi cinema since 1982, directing over 90 films in multiple Indian languages, ...
. She also made her debut in
Tamil cinema Tamil cinema is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Tamil language, the main spoken language in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is nicknamed Kollywood, a portmanteau of the names Kodambakkam, a Ch ...
with the successful romantic-drama '' Kadhal Desam'', directed by Kathir. Tabu's first release of 1997 was the J. P. Dutta-helmed ''
Border Borders are generally defined as geography, geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by polity, political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other administrative divisio ...
'', an ensemble war drama that retells the real-life events surrounding the Battle of Longewala during the Indo-Pak War of 1971; she played the role of Sunny Deol's wife. Though her role in the film was brief, it went on to be the second highest-grossing Indian film of 1997. That year, she also starred in the critically acclaimed action-drama '' Virasat'' for which she earned her first nomination at Filmfare for Best Actress (Critics). She followed this with a role in
Mani Ratnam Gopalaratnam Subramaniam (born 2 June 1956), known professionally as Mani Ratnam, is an Indian film director, film producer and screenwriter who predominantly works in Tamil cinema and a few Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. H ...
's Tamil political drama ''
Iruvar ''Iruvar'' () is a 1997 Indian Tamil-language epic political drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Mani Ratnam. The film, inspired by the lives of M. G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa, is set against the backdrop ...
,'' which had an ensemble cast consisting of
Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (; born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor and filmmaker who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema, Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil cinema, Tamil, Hin ...
,
Aishwarya Rai Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (; Rai; born 1 November 1973) is an Indian actress who is primarily known for her work in Hindi and Tamil language, Tamil films. Rai won the Miss World 1994 pageant and later established herself as one of the most-popu ...
,
Prakash Raj Prakash Raj (born Prakash Rai; 26 March 1965) is an Indian actor, film director, producer, television presenter, and politician. Known for his works in Telugu language, Telugu, Tamil language, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, English language, Engl ...
and Gautami. She also appeared in ''
Chachi 420 ''Chachi 420'' () is a 1997 Indian Hindi-language comedy film, co-written, produced and directed by Kamal Haasan. The film is an official remake of the 1996 Tamil film '' Avvai Shanmughi''., which itself was an adaptation of 1993 film '' Mrs. Dou ...
'' (1998), a remake of Tamil film '' Avvai Shanmughi'' co-starring
Kamal Haasan Parthasarathy Srinivasan (born 7 November 1954), known professionally as Kamal Haasan, is an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Considered as one of the most accomplished actors of Indian Cinema, Haas ...
. In her final release of the year, she starred in ''
Aavida Maa Aavide ''Aavida Maa Aavide'' () is a 1998 Telugu language, Telugu comedy drama film written and directed by E. V. V. Satyanarayana and produced by D. Kishore under the Jayabheri Arts, Jayabheri Art Productions banner. The film stars Nagarjuna (actor), ...
.'' In 1999, Tabu was seen among two successful ensemble films—the comedy ''
Biwi No.1 ''Biwi No.1'' () is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by David Dhawan, being a remake of the 1995 Tamil language, Tamil film ''Sathi Leelavathi (1995 film), Sathi Leelavathi''. It stars Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, ...
'' and the family drama '' Hum Saath-Saath Hain'', which went on to become the second highest-grossing, and the highest-grossing films of the year respectively. She also received near-unanimous critical acclaim for her performance in the drama ''
Hu Tu Tu ''Hu Tu Tu'' is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Gulzar, starring Nana Patekar, Sunil Shetty, Tabu and Suhasini Mulay. Plot The story opens with the kidnapping of Panna Barve, the daughter of Chief Minister Malti Barve. T ...
'', with Namrata Joshi of ''
India Today ''India Today'' is a weekly Indian English-language news magazine published by Living Media, Living Media India Limited. It is the most widely circulated magazine in India, with a readership of close to 8 million. In 2014, ''India Today'' laun ...
'' describing her as "mesmerising and eloquent". She won her second Filmfare Best Actress (Critics) Award.


Career expansion (2000–2009)

In 2000, Tabu had five releases across several languages. She first starred in the comedy '' Hera Pheri'' and the drama ''
Astitva ''Astitva'' () is a 2000 Indian film made simultaneously in Marathi and Hindi languages, written and directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. The film tells the story of Aditi Pandit, a happily married woman whose husband Srikant Pandit becomes suspicious w ...
'' in Hindi. The former was a box-office success, while the latter earned critical acclaim. ''Hindustan Times'' Arnab Banerjee praised her performance in ''Astitva'', writing that she "is brilliant and once again proves her mettle as an actress". She won her third Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for ''Astitva'', along with her fourth nomination for Best Actress. In the South, Tabu had two Tamil releases and one Malayalam film. Her Tamil films included the romantic musical '' Kandukondain Kandukondain'', an adaptation of
Jane Austen Jane Austen ( ; 16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for #List of works, her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment on the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century ...
's ''
Sense and Sensibility ''Sense and Sensibility'' ( working title; ''Elinor and Marianne'') is the first novel by the English author Jane Austen, published in 1811. It was published anonymously: ''By A Lady'' appears on the title page where the author's name might h ...
'', and the mystery thriller ''
Snegithiye ''Snegithiye'' () is a 2000 Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language mystery film, mystery thriller film directed by Priyadarshan. The film notably features only female characters, played by Tabu (actress), Tabu, Jyothika, Sharbani Mukherjee and Is ...
''. In ''Kandukondain Kandukondain'', she starred alongside
Mammootty Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail (born 7 September 1951), known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty (), is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam-language films. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, ...
,
Ajith Kumar Ajith Kumar Subramaniam (born 1 May 1971) is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. To date, he has starred in over 63 films, and won four Vijay Awards, three Cinema Express Awards, three Filmfare Awards South and three Ta ...
, and
Aishwarya Rai Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (; Rai; born 1 November 1973) is an Indian actress who is primarily known for her work in Hindi and Tamil language, Tamil films. Rai won the Miss World 1994 pageant and later established herself as one of the most-popu ...
as Sowmya, based on the character of Elinor Dashwood—Rai's character's sagacious older sister. In ''Snegithiye'', directed by Priyadarshan, Tabu portrayed a headstrong police officer investigating the murder of twin sisters. Both films were critically acclaimed and commercially successful. Tabu's Malayalam release, the action thriller '' Cover Story'', featured her alongside
Suresh Gopi Suresh Gopi (born 26 June 1958) is an Indian actor, playback singer, television presenter and politician who is currently serving as the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Minister of Tourism since June 2024. He was ele ...
and received positive reviews from critics. In 2001, Tabu starred in
Madhur Bhandarkar Madhur Bhandarkar (born 26 August 1968) is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer. In 2016, Bhandarkar was honoured with the Padma Shri, the Indian honours system, fourth highest civilian honour, by the Government of India. He i ...
's '' Chandni Bar'' as a bar dancer. Despite her initial hesitation due to the failure of Bhandarkar's previous film '' Trishakti'' (1999), she accepted the role after hearing the film's narration. The film, along with Tabu's performance, received unanimous critical acclaim, and she received her second National Film Award for Best Actress and a fifth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Critic Taran Adarsh wrote, "''Chandni Bar'' is Tabu's film all the way and there are no two opinions on that. Her performance deserves the highest marks and of course, all the awards. Her work is flawless and the impact her character makes on the minds of the viewer is also due to a tailor-made role". In a similar fashion, Salil Kumar of '' Rediff.com'' reviewed, "if there is one actress who can carry a film on her shoulders, it is Tabu. As usual, she sparkles!" Several publications have since regarded the performance as one of the finest of her career. In 2003, Tabu starred in an adaptation of
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's ''
Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...
'', titled '' Maqbool,'' that saw Irrfan Khan in the eponymous role. Based on the character of
Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth is a leading character in William Shakespeare's tragedy ''Macbeth'' (). As the wife of the play's tragic hero, Macbeth (a Scottish nobleman), Lady Macbeth goads her husband into committing regicide, after which she becomes quee ...
, she played Nimmi, Khan's domineering wife. Helmed by
Vishal Bhardwaj Vishal Bhardwaj (born 4 August 1965) is an Indian filmmaker, music composer, and playback singer. He is known for his work in Hindi cinema, and is the recipient of nine National Film Awards and a Filmfare Award. Bhardwaj made his debut as a mu ...
, the film was the first of his Shakespearean Trilogy and premiered at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. ''Maqbool'' was a box-office failure but was met with acclaim; Tabu's performance also received unanimous acclaim with critic Ron Ahluwalia writing: "Tabu shines in a dark role. The most versatile actress in Bollywood takes to villainy like second nature." She played the supporting role of a RAW officer in '' Fanaa'' (2006), alongside
Aamir Khan Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality who works in Bollywood, Hindi films. Referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" in the media, he is known for his work in a variety of film g ...
and Kajol. The film went on to become the sixth highest-grossing film of the year. The same year, she starred in her first Hollywood film '' The Namesake'', directed by
Mira Nair Mira Nair (born 15 October 1957) is an Indian-American filmmaker based in New York City. Her production company is Mirabai Films. Among her films are '' Mississippi Masala'', '' The Namesake'', the Golden Lion–winning '' Monsoon Wedding'', ...
. The film was a success overseas, and she received positive reviews for her performance. In R Balki's romance '' Cheeni Kum'' (2007), Tabu played a 34-year-old tourist in London who falls in love with a chef in his sixties (played by
Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan (; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema. He is often considered one of the greatest, most accomplished and commercially successful actors in the history of Indian cinema.* * * * * With a cinemati ...
). Due to budget constraints, Balki borrowed equipment from
Nikkhil Advani Nikkhil Suresh Advani (born 28 April 1971) is an Indian director, producer and screenwriter who works in Hindi cinema. He along with his sister, Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani, co-founded the entertainment company Emmay Entertainment. Early ...
's '' Salaam-e-Ishq'' for filming. ''Cheeni Kum'' received positive reviews from critics; Taran Adarsh praised Tabu for holding her own in the presence of Bachchan. Though the film was moderately successful in the domestic market, it performed particularly well in the UK and US. She acquired a record-setting fourth Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for her performance in the film.


Career fluctuations (2010–2017)

Following a brief hiatus, which she attributed to being meticulous in her film selection, Tabu starred in '' Toh Baat Pakki!'', a romantic comedy about a woman searching for a husband for her sister (played by Yuvika Chaudhary). The film was widely panned by critics, with Raja Sen of Rediff.com calling it a "bland, preposterously dated 'comedy'" and indicating that Tabu's poorly written character limited her performance. She next starred opposite Sunny Deol as a CBI officer investigating the murder of the
Chief Minister of Maharashtra The chief minister of Maharashtra (IAST: Mahārāṣṭrāce Mukhyamaṃtrī) is the head of the executive branch of the government of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Following elections to the Legislative Assembly, the governor invites ...
in the action drama '' Khuda Kasam''. Both ''Toh Baat Pakki!'' and ''Khuda Kasam'' had minuscule box-office returns. She returned to
Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema, also referred to as Mollywood, is a segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to producing films in the Malayalam, Malayalam language, primarily spoken in Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands. It encompasses both th ...
in 2011 with a song appearance in the multi-starrer '' Urumi'', directed by
Santosh Sivan Santosh Sivan ISC (born 8 February 1964) is an Indian cinematographer, film director, producer and actor known for his works in Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi cinema. Santosh graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India and has, to ...
. Tabu had also completed filming for B. R. Chopra's '' Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai''; however, the film was indefinitely shelved due to plagiarism disputes.In 2012, she had a brief role in her second Hollywood film, '' Life of Pi'', playing the protagonist's mother. A.O. Scott of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' described her limited screen time as "excellent". Tabu's sole release of 2013 was in
Bejoy Nambiar Bejoy Nambiar (born 12 April 1979) is an Indian film director, and screenwriter known for his work in Bollywood. He is mostly known for his critically acclaimed short films, ''Rahu'' and '' Reflections'', starring Mohanlal. He was the winner o ...
's Hindi-Tamil bilingual crime thriller ''
David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Dam ...
'' co-starring Vikram and Neil Nitin Mukesh; the film failed at the box-office. Keen to take on a light-hearted role, Tabu returned to commercial cinema with the Salman Khan-starrer '' Jai Ho'' (2014), a remake of the Telugu film ''
Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Dzhugashvili; 5 March 1953) was a Soviet politician and revolutionary who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until Death and state funeral of Joseph Stalin, his death in 1953. He held power as General Secret ...
'' (2006).' Despite being six years younger than Khan, she played the role of his elder sister. ''Variety'''s David Chute wrote that, "Stately-tall and with the profile of an Egyptian princess, Tabu is operating here several kilometers beneath her gifts". With a gross of over , it emerged as the sixth-highest grossing Hindi film of the year. She then reunited with Bhardwaj for '' Haider'', his film adaptation of Shakespeare's ''
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
''. The film completed Bhardwaj's Shakespearean Trilogy that previously featured Tabu in ''Maqbool''. She initially passed on the role as she was hesitant about playing a mother to
Shahid Kapoor Shahid Kapoor (; born 25 February 1981) is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi films. Initially recognised for portraying romantic roles, he has since taken on parts in action films and thrillers, and is the recipient of List of awards and n ...
, but relented when Bhardwaj stressed the character's importance to the plot. She essayed the role of Ghazala Meer, the Gertrude character, to Kapoor's Haider (
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
). ''Haider'' received critical acclaim, with Tabu's performance being particularly praised. Both Rachel Saltz of ''The New York Times'' and Lisa Tsering of ''
The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'' concurred that Tabu overshadowed the rest of the cast with her performance. She earned her first
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress The Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress is given by ''Filmfare'' as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role. Although the Filmfare ...
. Tabu continued to receive critical acclaim with her next venture, ''
Drishyam ''Drishyam'' () is a 2013 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film written and directed by Jeethu Joseph. It stars Mohanlal alongside Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Asha Sharath, Siddique, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Roshan Basheer and ...
'' (2015), in which she portrayed Meera, a police officer investigating the murder of her son. Directed by Nishikant Kamat, the film was a remake of the Malayalam film of the same name. Writing for Scroll.in, Nandini Ramnath wrote that Tabu's "raspy voice and impassive face convey the systemic obduracy that Meera Deshmukh represents". She earned her third nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Both ''Haider'' and ''Drishyam'' emerged as modest commercial successes. '' Fitoor''—the Hindi adaptation of
Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...
' ''
Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by English author Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. The novel is a bildungsroman and depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip. It is Dickens' second novel, after ''Dav ...
''—was Tabu's sole release of 2016 alongside
Katrina Kaif Katrina Kaif (; born Katrina Rosemary Turcotte, 16 July 1983) is a British actress who works in Hindi-language films. One of the highest-paid actresses in India, she has received numerous accolades, including four Screen Awards and four Zee C ...
and Aditya Roy Kapur. Based on the character of
Miss Havisham Miss Havisham is a character in Charles Dickens's 1861 novel ''Great Expectations''. She is a wealthy spinster, once jilted at the altar, who insists on wearing her wedding dress for the rest of her life. She lives in a ruined mansion with her ...
, she essayed the role of Begum Hazrat, Kaif's manipulative mother. Tabu's performance divided critics; While Rachel Saltz remarked that her performance was inferior to her other roles in adapted English tragedies, she praised her ability to convey loss with "her great tragedienne's face", and Subhash K. Jha of ''Firstpost'' thought that she had been miscast in the role of Kaif's mother, but both criticised the inadequacy of the script. It emerged as a
box-office bomb A box-office bomb is a film that is unprofitable or considered highly unsuccessful during its theatrical run. Although any film for which the combined production budget, marketing, and distribution costs exceed the revenue after release has te ...
. In 2017, Tabu joined
Rohit Shetty Rohit Shetty (born 14 March 1974) is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, stuntman, producer and television personality who works in Hindi cinema. A notable director of Hindi cinema, his movies often mix the genres of action comedy and masala f ...
's ''Golmaal'' (film series) in the sequel '' Golmaal Again''. She cited her admiration for Shetty's work as the reason for her return to comedy. Her portrayal of a ghostbuster drew praise from critics with ''The Indian Express'' Shubhra Gupta writing that "her inclusion to the film is an unexpected pleasure". ''Golmaal Again'' became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of the year.


Resurgence (2018–present)

Tabu's first release of 2018 was Mukul Abhyankar's '' Missing'', a thriller opposite
Manoj Bajpayee Manoj Bajpayee (born 23 April 1969), also transliterated as Manoj Bajpai, is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of numerous accolades including four National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards, and two ...
. She lent her vocals for the film's only song, a lullaby titled "So Ja Re". Despite earning praise for her portrayal of a mother in search of her missing daughter, the film underperformed at the box office. She followed this with a special appearance in
Rajkumar Hirani Rajkumar "Raju" Hirani (born 20 November 1962) is an Indian filmmaker known for his works in Hindi films. He is the recipient of several accolades, including four National Film Awards and 11 Filmfare Awards. Hirani is referred as one of the m ...
's biopic ''
Sanju ''Sanju'' is a 2018 Indian Hindi-language biographical comedy drama film directed and edited by Rajkumar Hirani, written by Hirani and Abhijat Joshi and produced by Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra under the banners Rajkumar Hirani Films and Vi ...
'', starring
Ranbir Kapoor Ranbir Kapoor (; born 28 September 1982) is an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi-language films. He is one of the highest-paid actors of Hindi cinema and has featured in ''Forbes India'' Celebrity 100 list since 2012. Kapoor is the re ...
. Tabu described her scene in the film as her " Truman Show moment", as she recreated the moment she presented
Sanjay Dutt Sanjay Balraj Dutt (born 29 July 1959) is an Indian actor, playback singer and film producer who works in Hindi cinema in addition to a few Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Punjabi films. Dutt has won several accolades and acted in over 160 films. ...
the award for Best Actor in a Comic Role at the 49th Filmfare Awards. A turning point in her career came with Sriram Raghavan's crime thriller '' Andhadhun'', which saw her as the parallel lead to
Ayushmann Khurrana Ayushmann Khurrana (born Nishant Khurrana; 14 September 1984) is an Indian actor and singer who works in Hindi films. Known for his portrayals of ordinary men often battling social norms, he is the recipient of several awards, including a Na ...
. The film, along with her performance, received unanimous critical acclaim. Critic
Rajeev Masand Rajeev Masand (born 13 March 1976) is an Indian film critic and journalist. He has worked for Noida based English language news channel CNN-Indian Broadcasting Network (CNN-IBN). He usually reviews Bollywood films and major Hollywood films rel ...
lauded Tabu as "the film's towering performance" and reviewers for ''
Reuters Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world. The agency ...
'' and ''Hindustan Times'' commended her capabilities as the
femme fatale A ( , ; ), sometimes called a maneater, Mata Hari, or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and Seduction, seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. She is an archetype ...
. With a gross of over , the film emerged as a top-grossing Indian film, and earned her a sixth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress'','' and fifth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics). In Akiv Ali's romantic comedy '' De De Pyaar De'' (2019), she starred as the ex-wife of Devgn's character who disapproves of his relationship with a younger woman (played by Rakul Preet Singh). She was drawn to exploring how a middle-aged divorcee navigates love. ''Rediff.com''s
Sukanya Verma Sukanya Verma is an Indian journalist and film critic. She has been the principal movie reviewer with web portal '' Rediff.com''. She has written a number of columns as a freelance writer for ''The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English ...
praised Tabu for enhancing a mediocre picture. She ended the year with a brief role as the missing younger sister of Salman Khan's character in
Ali Abbas Zafar Ali Abbas Zafar is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. He is known for directing ''Mere Brother Ki Dulhan'' (2011), ''Gunday'' (2014), ''Sultan (2016 film), Sultan'' (2016), ''Tiger Zinda Hai'' (2017) and ''Bharat (film), Bharat' ...
's partition drama '' Bharat.'' Tabu then returned to Telugu cinema after a decade, appearing in Trivikram Srinivas' '' Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo'' (2020), as the mother of
Allu Arjun Allu Arjun (born 8 April 1982) is an Indian actor who works in Telugu cinema. He is one of the highest-paid actors in Indian cinemaand has been featured in ''Forbes Indias Celebrity 100 list since 2014. Allu Arjun's accolades include a Na ...
's character. The film went on to become the second highest-grossing Indian film of the year and Tabu's performance received praised critically, earning her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress (Telugu). She followed this with both her television and streaming foray as Saeeda Begum, a
ghazal ''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
singer who engages in a relationship with a younger man (played by Ishaan Khatter) in Nair's post-partition drama '' A Suitable Boy.'' Based on
Vikram Seth Vikram Seth (born 20 June 1952) is an Indian people, Indian novelist and poet. He has written several novels and poetry books. He has won several awards such as Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, WH Smith Literary Awar ...
's 1993 novel of the same name, the series marked the first
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
period-drama series to have a non-white cast. Critics were divided on the series, but Tabu's performance earned widespread praise. In a positive review for RogerEbert.com, Roxana Hadadi wrote that Tabu "gives nuance to Saeeda's sense of otherness in a community that seems to both treasure and abhor her". She ended the year with a brief role (billed as a special appearance) in the unremarkable family comedy '' Jawaani Jaaneman.''In the spiritual sequel '' Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'' (2022), Tabu received critical acclaim for her dual role as twin sisters seeking vengeance against each other. She found the experience of playing the dual role particularly challenging, as she had to showcase the characters in multiple time periods. Reception to the film was generally mixed, but Tabu's performance was seen as a highlight; Writing for ''Hindustan Times'', Monika Rawal Kukreja thought that Tabu "stole the show", but considered her portrayal of Manjulika inferior to that of
Vidya Balan Vidya Balan (pronounced ; born 1 January 1979) is an Indian actress. Known for pioneering a change in the portrayal of women in Hindi cinema with her roles in female-led films, she is the recipient of several awards, including a National Fil ...
's in the predecessor. She earned a seventh nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress'','' and a record-setting fifth Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics). Later that year, she reprised her role as Meera in the thriller sequel '' Drishyam 2'', directed by Abhishek Pathak. Archika Khurana of ''The Times of India'' described her as "simply outstanding", and
WION WION (World is One News) is an Indian English language news channel headquartered in Noida, India. WION is owned by the Essel Group and is a part of the Zee Media network of channels, whose majority owner is Subhash Chandra and family. As o ...
's Shomini Sen appreciated her for subtly complementing Devgn's performance. Both ''Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'' and ''Drishyam 2'' rank among the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2022, with the latter earning over worldwide. The 2023 witnessed Tabu portray a government official thrice in the thrillers '' Kuttey'', ''
Bholaa ''Bholaa'' is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language Action film, action thriller film directed by Ajay Devgn and produced by Devgn Films, Reliance Entertainment, T-Series (company), T-Series Films and Dream Warrior Pictures. It is a remake of the 2019 T ...
'' and '' Khufiya''. In ''Kuttey'', she essayed the role of a corrupt police officer—a role originally written for a man. Sukanya Verma commended Tabu for elevating a poorly-written script. Once again as a police officer, Tabu starred opposite Devgn in the action thriller ''Bholaa'', which he also directed. In her mixed review of the film, Monika Rawal Kukreja felt that Tabu had not been given adequate scope to perform as she is "made to disappear as Devgn takes spotlight while fighting the bad guys". Both ''Kuttey'' and ''Bholaa'' underperformed at the box-office. In ''Khufiya'', she reunited with Bhardwaj for their fifth collaboration as an operative of an intelligence agency alongside Ali Fazal and Wamiqa Gabbi. Released directly on to
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
, the film had a generally ambivalent reception from critics. Anuj Kumar of ''
The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was founded as a weekly publication in 1878 by the Triplicane Six, becoming a daily in 1889. It is one of the India ...
'' was appreciative of Tabu's consistent performances in Bhardwaj's projects, but thought that she had been overshadowed by Gabbi. Tabu returned to commercial cinema in 2024 alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan and
Kriti Sanon Kriti Sanon (born 27 July 1990) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films. She has received a National Film Award and two Filmfare Awards, and was featured in ''Forbes India'' Forbes Celebrity 100, Celebrity 100 list of 2019. Af ...
in the female-led heist comedy ''
Crew A crew is a body or a group of people who work at a common activity, generally in a structured or hierarchy, hierarchical organization. A location in which a crew works is called a crewyard or a workyard. The word has nautical resonances: the ta ...
'', in which the trio played flight attendants. In preparation, they received training from former cabin crew members. ''Outlook'' Garima Das commended Tabu as the film's standout. Ranking among the top-grossing Hindi films of 2024, it emerged as a major commercial success. She next reunited with Devgn for their tenth collaboration in Neeraj Pandey's '' Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha'', a romantic thriller about a married woman who rekindles a relationship with her incarcerated former lover''.'' The film couldn't recoup its estimated investment. Lachmi Deb Roy of ''Firstpost'' panned the film's antiquated storyline and the underutilisation of both Devgn and Tabu, though Dhaval Roy took note of Tabu delivering a performance of "quiet intensity". In her final release of the year, she had a brief role as Francesca in the ''Dune'' franchise prequel series '' Dune: Prophecy'', a character she described as "deep and intense". Praising her styling and look in the series, Mini Anthikad Chhibber of ''The Hindu'' remarked that Tabu did "what she can with her thinly written character", and ''The Hindustan Times'' Abhimanyu Mathur compared her performance unfavourably to those of her other English-language roles in ''Life of Pi'' and ''The Namesake.'' Tabu will next star opposite
Akshay Kumar Akshay Hari Om Bhatia (born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia; 9 September 1967), known professionally as Akshay Kumar (), is an Indian actor and film producer working in Hindi cinema. Referred to in the media as "Khiladi Kumar", through his career span ...
in Priyadarshan's horror comedy ''Bhoot Bangla''. She will also feature in Puri Jagannadh's as-yet untitled action film starring
Vijay Sethupathi Vijaya Gurunatha Sethupathi Kalimuthu (born 16 January 1978) is an Indian actor and film producer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema, Tamil films. Sethupathi is the recipient of several accolades, including a National Film Awards, National F ...
.


Media image and artistry

Tabu is among the most accomplished actresses in
Hindi cinema Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
, known for her work in both mainstream and independent cinema. ''
India Today ''India Today'' is a weekly Indian English-language news magazine published by Living Media, Living Media India Limited. It is the most widely circulated magazine in India, with a readership of close to 8 million. In 2014, ''India Today'' laun ...
'' observes that Tabu's "uncontrived freshness" and "mobile face" have made her a favourite in Bollywood, with her performances showcasing "a considerable range". ''
Filmfare ''Filmfare'' is an Indian English-language fortnightly magazine published by Worldwide Media. Acknowledged as one of India's most popular entertainment magazines, it publishes pieces involving news, interviews, photos, videos, reviews, events, ...
'' adds that her presence in a film's credits automatically raises audience expectations. According to ''
Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
'', Tabu portrayed strong, women-oriented characters long before such roles were labelled "game-changers," while '' Vogue'' highlights her ability to deliver "non-stop stellar and heart-swooning performances." '' Eastern Eye'' describes her as a "versatile performer" often called upon to bring depth to commercial blockbusters. '' Film Companion'' has commented on the "aura of mystery" surrounding her as a celebrity, adding that her onscreen presence carries an "ineffable, intuitive quality." Despite having no formal acting background, Tabu considers herself a risk-taker, relying on instinct and her director's guidance rather than extensive preparation. Members of the
Indian film industry The cinema of India, consisting of Film, motion pictures made by the Indian film industry, has had a large effect on world cinema since the second half of the 20th century. Indian cinema is made up of various #Cinema by language, film indus ...
have often commented on Tabu's beauty and talent. Lyricist
Gulzar Gulzar (born Sampooran Singh Kalra; 18 August 1934) is an Indian Urdu poetry, Urdu poet, lyricist, author, screenwriter, and film director known for his works in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of greatest Urdu poets of this era. He starte ...
hailed Tabu as "the beginning of a new era" and "a thinking actress in the mould of Nargis, Nutan and Meena Kumari". For filmmaker
Karan Johar Karan Yash Johar (born Rahul Kumar Johar; 25 May 1972), often informally referred to as KJo, is an Indian filmmaker, producer and television personality who primarily works in Hindi cinema. He has launched the careers of several successful ac ...
, Tabu is "truly the country's greatest actor", as well as "versatile", "adaptive" and "timeless". She describes her aunt,
Shabana Azmi Shabana Azmi (born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. Her career in the Hindi cinema, Hindi film industry has spanned Shabana Azmi filmography, over 160 films, mostly within independent and neorealist paral ...
, as her "biggest critic". In 2023, journalist
Rajeev Masand Rajeev Masand (born 13 March 1976) is an Indian film critic and journalist. He has worked for Noida based English language news channel CNN-Indian Broadcasting Network (CNN-IBN). He usually reviews Bollywood films and major Hollywood films rel ...
named her one of Hindi cinema's best actresses of all time. Known to be selective about her film roles, Tabu once said, "I do films which move me and most of all, the unit and the director should appeal to me". In 2019, at the 17th
Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) is an annual film festival held in Los Angeles, California. Established by Christina Marouda in 2003, as a nonprofit organization devoted to paving the way for a greater appreciation of Indian cinema< ...
she was honoured with "Opening Night Tribute". In 2019, ''Film Companion'' ranked Tabu's performance in ''Haider'' and ''Andhadhun'' among the ''100 Greatest Performances of the Decade''. ''
India Today ''India Today'' is a weekly Indian English-language news magazine published by Living Media, Living Media India Limited. It is the most widely circulated magazine in India, with a readership of close to 8 million. In 2014, ''India Today'' laun ...
'' named her in their "Top Bollywood Actresses" list. She was placed in ''
Filmfare ''Filmfare'' is an Indian English-language fortnightly magazine published by Worldwide Media. Acknowledged as one of India's most popular entertainment magazines, it publishes pieces involving news, interviews, photos, videos, reviews, events, ...
''s "Top Ten Actresses" of 2003. In '' Rediff.com''s "Top Ten Actresses" list, she ranked 9th in 2007. She topped the list in 2014 and 2018. In 1998, Tabu received the Smita Patil Memorial Award for Best Actress, for her contribution to Indian cinema. ''
Forbes India ''Forbes India'' is the Indian edition of ''Forbes'', which is managed by the Reliance Industries-owned media conglomerate, Network 18. History and profile Since its founding in 2008, ''Forbes India'' has achieved a circulation of 50,000 copies ...
'' included Tabu in its "50 Showstoppers" list of 2022.


Controversy

In 1998, Tabu was charged with poaching two
blackbuck The blackbuck (''Antilope cervicapra''), also known as the Indian antelope, is a medium-sized antelope native to India and Nepal. It inhabits grassy plains and lightly forested areas with perennial water sources. It stands up to high at the sh ...
s on the outskirts of Kankani village in Jodhpur district of
Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
during the filming of ''Hum Saath Saath Hain'' along with co-stars Salman Khan,
Saif Ali Khan Saif Ali Khan (; born Sajid Ali Khan Pataudi; 16 August 1970) is an Indian actor and film producer who primarily works in Hindi cinema, Hindi films. The titular head of the Pataudi family since 2011, he is the son of actress Sharmila Tagore a ...
,
Sonali Bendre Sonali Bendre Behl (born 1 January 1975), known professionally as Sonali Bendre, is an Indian actress predominantly known for her work in Hindi and Telugu films. Considered as one of the leading actresses of the 1990s and early 2000s, Bendre s ...
and Neelam Kothari. A lower court charged her with the others under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the IPC. She had filed a revision petition before a sessions court which discharged her of Section 51 (causing harm to wildlife) of Wildlife Act and both of 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly of persons) of the
Indian Penal Code The Indian Penal Code (IPC) was the official criminal code of the Republic of India, inherited from British India after independence. It remained in force until it was repealed and replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in December 2023 ...
. The Rajasthan State Government then filed a revision petition before the
Rajasthan High Court The High Court of Rajasthan is located in Jodhpur and is the highest court in the Indian state, state of Rajasthan. It was established on 29 August 1949 under the ''Rajasthan High Court Ordinance, 1949''. Currently the Judiciary of India#Judge s ...
at Jodhpur which again added Section 149 against her, which had been dropped earlier. In December 2012, the Jodhpur court summoned her along with all the accused for commencement of the trial with the revised charges on 4 February 2013. Although Tabu was acquitted in the blackbuck poaching case on 5 April 2018, the Rajasthan High Court issued her with a notice, challenging her acquittal on 11 March 2019.


Awards and nominations

Tabu received the
National Film Award for Best Actress The National Film Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role is an honour presented annually at the National Film Awards of India since 1968 to an actress for the best performance in a leading role within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry. ...
for ''Maachis'' and ''Chandni Bar''. She received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for ''Virasat'', ''Hu Tu Tu'', ''Astitva'', ''Cheeni Kum'' and ''Bhool Bhulaiyya 2'', along with
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress The Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress is given by ''Filmfare'' as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role. Although the Filmfare ...
for ''Haider'', and the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for ''Vijaypath''. She was awarded the
Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...
, India's fourth highest civilian award, by the
Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
for her contributions towards the arts in 2011.


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tabu 1971 births Living people Indian film actresses Actresses in Hindi cinema Actresses in Telugu cinema Actresses in Tamil cinema Actresses in Malayalam cinema Actresses in Bengali cinema Actresses in Marathi cinema Actresses from Hyderabad, India Best Actress National Film Award winners Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Filmfare Awards winners Filmfare Awards South winners 20th-century Indian actresses 21st-century Indian actresses Female models from Hyderabad, India South Indian International Movie Awards winners Screen Awards winners International Indian Film Academy Awards winners Zee Cine Awards winners Indian people of Pakistani descent