Tabu

Her father was an actor in Pakistan, with some well-received roles in the 1970s, who moved to India in order to live with her mother.

He left the family when she was three.

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.

Tabassum Fatima Hashmi (born 4 November 1971), credited as Tabu, is an Indian actress who works primarily in Hindi films.

Regarded as one of the most accomplished actresses in Hindi cinema, 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, seven Filmfare Awards (including a record five Critics Awards for Best Actress), and two Filmfare Awards South.

Tabassum Fatima Hashmi was born on 4 November 1971 to Jamal Ali Hashmi and Rizwana in a Hyderabadi Muslim family.

As a child, Tabu had an uncredited appearance at the age of 11 in Bazaar (1982), and later in Hum Naujawan (1985) at the age of 14; she played Dev Anand's daughter in the film.

She moved to Mumbai in 1983 and studied at St. Xavier's College for 2 years.

She is the niece of Shabana Azmi, Tanvi Azmi and Baba Azmi and the younger sister of actress Farah Naaz.

She is reluctant to discuss her personal life in the media.

Tabu had her first credited role as a teenager in Dev Anand's Hum Naujawan (1985) and played her first leading role in the Telugu film Coolie No. 1 (1991).

In December 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.

Her first role as an actress was in the Telugu film Coolie No.1 (1991) co-starring with Venkatesh.

In 1994, she received the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for the Hindi action drama Vijaypath.

Tabu's first release in Hindi as a leading lady was Pehla Pehla Pyar (1994), which went unnoticed.

She rose to prominence with her role in Vijaypath (1994) opposite Ajay Devgan, for which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

In the following year, significant appearances included her role in the box-office success Haqeeqat (1995) and the romantic drama film Saajan Ki Baahon Mein (1995) alongside Rishi Kapoor and Raveena Tandon.

She won the National Film Award for Best Actress for playing a young woman affected by the Punjab insurgency in the political thriller Maachis (1996).

Also in 1996, she had commercial successes in Ninne Pelladata, Kadhal Desam, Saajan Chale Sasural and Jeet.

In 1996, Tabu had eight releases.

two of which – Saajan Chale Sasural and Jeet – emerged as commercial successes, ranking in the top five films of that year, receiving her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the latter.

Her other significant film, the political thriller Maachis, was critically acclaimed.

Her role as a Punjabi woman caught in the rise of Sikh insurgency was highly acclaimed; she went on to win her first National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance, in addition to her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

The same year saw her star in major blockbuster films down south.

She starred in the Telugu blockbuster Ninne Pelladata, opposite Nagarjuna, a film which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, winning the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance.

Anupama Chopra wrote that she was "breathtakingly sensuous" in the part.

The critically acclaimed Malayalam period epic film Kaalapani directed by Priyadarshan brought her laurels for her acting from all across South India.

She also debuted in Tamil cinema (Kollywood) through the highly successful Tamil film Kadhal Desam, directed by Kathir.

Further box office hits came with Iruvar (1997), Border (1997), Biwi No.1 (1999), Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999), Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) and Hera Pheri (2000).

Tabu gained acclaim for portraying troubled women in Virasat (1997), Hu Tu Tu (1999), and Astitva (2000), all of which won her Filmfare Critics Awards; and Chandni Bar (2001) which earned her a second National Film Award.

Tabu's first release of 1997 was Border, an ensemble war drama about the real-life events surrounding the Battle of Longewala during the Indo-Pak War of 1971, playing the role of Sunny Deol's wife.

Her role was brief, but the film went on to be the second-biggest hit of 1997 after Dil To Pagal Hai.

That year, she also starred in the critically acclaimed film Virasat.

This acclaim continued with the films Maqbool (2004), Cheeni Kum (2007), which won her a record fourth Filmfare Critics Award, and Haider (2014), which earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Tabu expanded to American cinema with The Namesake (2006) and Life of Pi (2012).

In 2011, she was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian honour.

Her biggest commercial successes in India came with Drishyam (2015), Golmaal Again (2017), Andhadhun (2018), De De Pyaar De (2019), Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020), Drishyam 2 (2022) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), for which she won her fifth Filmfare Critics Award.