Quotes from Shabana Azmi

An actor's resource base must be life itself.

I look back on my career with some sort of satisfaction.

People of Pakistan don't want a ban on Indian content in their country, but it is their politicians who want it. In our country too, politicians want to ban their art and artists.

I am quite proud of being in Parliament, I actually love it.

My being Muslim is only one part of my identity. But particularly in India and the world over, a concerted effort is being made to diminish all other aspects of identity and only take your religious identity as who you are.

Why cannot a woman be shown working out of choice, the way men do? Can't a woman work because she enjoys it and is capable of doing it? Why should they be shown leaving home for employment as a sacrifice for the family?

Vulgar lyrics and suggestive, voyeuristic camera angles do not celebrate a woman's sexuality, they actually objectify her.

There is a dumbing down of the news. Newspapers today seem more like tabloids. I have to wade through seven newspapers before I can find a couple of paragraphs that are serious news. What a pity!

What bothers me about red carpet, particularly Cannes, is that it's an extremely important festival where stunning films are shown and nothing of that ever comes in papers. It's always celebrities standing with one hand on waist, I don't know who decided that as an attractive position.

Over the years, I've consciously not done films that in any way suggest that women are subservient to men.

Fear is a phenomena that each one of us faces, in different ways.

My fingers are always in every single pie.

I remember people were horrified when I celebrated my 50th! 'Don't announce your age,' I was advised! How stupid is that.

In times of crisis the artist must rise to the challenge and try to make sense from the chaos.

It is accepted the world over that women are an essential part of what makes a society successful, and only through supporting and empowering women can a country truly be strong.

Art cinema is easier to do as situations in it are closer to real life.

We never had any money. All the money we used to get, my father would give to the Communist Party.

I don't see the point of having a favorite sari or a favorite outfit if I know that I won't repeat it. I'm glad Kate Middleton has been repeating her outfits and talking about sustainable fashion. Celebrities must set an example and repeat their clothes.

I must confess that flowers are my weakness and I love receiving them, especially Indian fragrant flowers - Mogra, Rajnigandha, Sontakka, etc.

In a patriarchal society like ours, women have to fight hard for a seat at the table. Boys are privileged over girls from birth. Equal opportunity and access for both girls and boys must become the norm.

For a country such as India, whose public healthcare system is already severely strained, the lack of awareness and adaptation of safe practices by menstruating women is known to add another dimension to the overall problem.

One of the best things that we have in India is a free press.

I am trying to Marie Condo the house starting with my books, although it's really hard to part with them! But I really want to de-clutter and get rid of stuff I haven't used for six months, whether it's clothes, bags, or shoes.

Because I was involved in so many other areas of life and so many productive activities, I wasn't judged for not being a mother. There was no pressure on me for not having children.