Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has achieved a remarkable feat this year by completing 50 glorious years in Indian cinema. In an exclusive conversation with India Today Digital, 74-year-old Azmi shared his thoughts on reaching this important milestone and whether it feels overwhelming.

“I have to be honest: Never in my wildest dreams, when I started 50 years ago, did I think I would still be working 50 years later. I feel incredibly lucky and believe I was in the right place at the right time,” she said.

Reflecting on his career, he said, “When I started, we did not have parallel or art cinema. I became a pioneer when films began to depict more complex female characters. If I had not been a part of that period, I would not have had the opportunities that I did. My appetite for work has increased, and when people ask me about my favorite role, I tell them, ‘It’s yet to come.’ I’m not going anywhere!'”

When Azmi was asked what advice she would give her 20-year-old self, she replied, “I would tell her to go with her conscience. That’s what I did. People think that I planned my career very carefully, but that is not true. I made the best choices out of the opportunities I had. If anyone asks if I regret any choices, I say no. Success cannot be measured only in business terms; It varies in many ways.

Azmi’s definition of success is both nuanced and reflective. “It’s a pleasure when a film does well, but if my films were not successful, I could have easily faded into the background. I had art cinema and mainstream hits like Amar Akbar Anthony, Parvarish and Avtaar. People now recognize that some films stand the test of time while others do not, but there are no regrets. You learn valuable lessons from failure. You can’t measure success by money alone.”

He cited legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt as an example and recalled how Kaagaz Ke Phool received an underwhelming response upon release, but is now considered a cult classic. “The long-term value of a film is important. There can be lessons learned from trying something new, even if it doesn’t work out,” he said.

Known for her diverse work that blends commercial and art-house styles, Azmi continues to shine as a leading actress. Her recent performance in the 2023 film Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani received widespread praise.