Inside Shabana Azmi’s 76th Birthday Bash With Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, Dia Mirza And More. See Pics
Shabana Azmi kicked off her birthday celebrations with Javed Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, and Dia Mirza, complete with laughter, music and a quirky ‘Batwarapan’ cake.
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Veteran actress Shabana Azmi kicked off her 76th birthday celebrations surrounded by close friends, family, and industry peers. Taking to Instagram, the cinema legend shared a carousel of candid photographs from an intimate pre-birthday gathering hosted by Namrata Goyal. Accompanying the pictures, Shabana penned a warm note thanking her host: “Thank you @mantagoyal for organising a wonderful evening. And the tradition carries on : Right Leg Forward.”
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The post drew immediate love from the film fraternity, with Dia Mirza commenting, “Best times with the best humans,” Urmila Matondkar dropping red heart emojis, and actor Akhlaque Khan noting, “Uff.. so much of talent in a frame.”
Check out Shabana Azmi’s Instagram post below:
Leading the photo dump was the celebratory tradition referenced in her caption. Posing together in a vibrant living room, Shabana – dressed in a bright orange kurta paired with an ethnic turquoise beaded necklace – was flanked by Anil Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Dia Mirza, Divya Dutta, Shahana Goswami, Shibani Dandekar Akhtar, Tanvi Azmi, and close companions. Striking a synchronized, playful pose, the entire group kicked their right foot forward towards the camera, breaking into broad smiles.
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Another picture captured a tender, candid moment between Shabana Azmi and her husband, celebrated lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar. Dressed in a green kurta, Javed Akhtar smiled warmly as Shabana looked up at him with an adoring expression.
The carousel also spotlighted relaxed moments with her close circle of women. In one frame, Shabana, Dia Mirza, Divya Dutta, Shahana Goswami, and Tanvi Azmi sat closely on a couch, posing with their hands tucked under their chins in an elegant, coordinated gesture.
A wider angle of the living room revealed the cozy ambiance of the night, featuring a live acoustic musical performance in the background with a guitarist singing for the guests, while snack platters, floral centrepieces, and glowing pillar candles decorated the coffee table.
Farhan Akhtar and Anil Kapoor were spotted sharing a relaxed conversation while seated in plush armchairs. Dressed in understated casual black attire, the two actors sat beside a chalkboard easel displaying the evening’s custom menu. Playfully headlined "76 WHO?", the board featured an assortment of desi favourites, including beverages like Kulhad Chai and Som Sudha, street-style Papdi Chaat, appetizers, and artisanal desserts.
The celebrations were filled with genuine camaraderie. One photograph captured Shabana and her friends doubled over in hearty, unrestrained laughter, clasping hands mid-moment. Another picture showed Shabana Azmi posing alongside three close companions against framed wall art, with the guests dressed in regal suits with dupattas and layered jewellery.
The party wrapped with a look at Shabana Azmi's customized birthday cake, which carried a very special industry reference. The mouth-watering cake, lined with piped chocolate icing, featured edible photo prints of Shabana Azmi in two intense screen roles separated by a dramatic tear. Above the imagery, the cake read “Batwarapan!” – a clever portmanteau celebrating her recent double box-office release.
On August 14, 2026, the veteran actress had two major films hit theatres on the exact same day: Rajkumar Santoshi’s Partition-era drama ‘Batwara 1947’ (where she played the resilient Hindu widow, Mai) and Nitin Kakkar's romantic action sequel ‘Awarapan 2’ (where she played the formidable crime lord, Nafisa).
The left side of the cake, showing Shabana Azmi in a white suit, depicted her character from the period film, while the right side represented her antagonistic role in the action sequel. The banner below cemented her towering cinematic legacy with the words: “A Talent That Is Borderless! Est. 1950 Still Going Strong(Est!).”
