Shabana Azmi reveals that Farhan Akhtar wanted to change the climax of Fire, saying ‘It will ruin the whole…’
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi recently shared that the conclusion of her highly acclaimed 1996 film Fire was altered based on a suggestion from her stepson, actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar. Azmi reflected on their conversation about the script, where young Farhan recommended changing the ending because he didn’t like it. He expressed concerns that the ending would distort the film’s original intention, leading people to question Azmi’s actions.
In a recent interview with PTI, Shabana remembered, “What’s interesting is that Farhan is younger than Zoya and I had discussed this film with him back then. He was very young, and I told him to read the script. And he loved it.
He said, ‘I don’t like the end because this woman (Radha) dies. It will ruin the whole purpose of the film, and people might think, you did something wrong’. He said, ‘She must survive’,” Azmi said, adding that she shared the feedback with director Deepa Mehta.
She said, ‘Let me think about it.’ That’s what set the film, so it was my entire family that came and supported me for the film.”
Fire was a groundbreaking Bollywood film that depicted homosexual relationships and featured one of the first lesbian relationships on screen. Azmi carefully considered the implications of taking on the role, especially in relation to her work with women in slums.
This Indo-Canadian film, written and directed by Deepa Mehta, delves into themes of love, identity, and societal norms through the relationship of two women, Radha (played by Azmi) and Sita (Nandita Das).
During a masterclass at the Mumbai Film Festival with actress Vidya Balan, Azmi revealed that she consulted her family before accepting the role, expressing concerns about the potential impact on her community work.
She received support from her husband, Javed Akhtar, and her stepdaughter, Zoya Akhtar. Zoya, who was 18 at the time, encouraged Azmi to follow her heart if she believed in the script, highlighting the perspectives of a younger generation.
Azmi recalled her husband’s advice to face criticism with sensitivity and empathy for the character, reassuring her to pursue what she believed in and not be deterred by backlash.
Shabana will next be seen in Manish Malhotra’s Bun Tikki, alongside Zeenat Aman and Abhay Deol, while Farhan has upcoming projects such as Don 3 and Jee Le Zara.
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