The role Tabu said was to 'die for' - playing Shahid's mother in 'Haider'

In an industry that has been obsessed with formulaic and masala films over the years, there has seldom been actors who have managed to break that mold and make a mark like actor Tabu has. The lady has always managed to make a staggering impact with her unconventional roles and furthermore with some classic films as well.

Today is Tabu's 51st birthday and there cannot be a better role and performance to remember the same than her character in Haider. The film that was Vishal Bharadwaj's third film adapted from Hamlet in the Shakespeare adaptation trilogy and was as stellar as you would expect it to be. And while the film was delving into other issues just like Hamlet did, on the surface, the film was about a mother-son's eccentric relationship which was played by Tabu and Shahid Kapoor respectively.

Back then, in an interview with IndianExpress, Tabu had even accepted saying, “He (Vishal Bhardwaj) cast me as Shahid’s mother because he wanted the oddity of the relationship to come out which wouldn’t have come across with a regular aged mother and son combination. Haider shares a love/hate relationship with Ghazala but it’s a very passionate emotion. You almost feel odd that these two are mom and son. Haider’s predicament is that he doesn’t know what to do with his mother—whether to love her, hate her, believe her or kill her." She also described the role ‘to die for’.

Even Kapoor went on to talk about Tabu in an interview with Film Companion as she said, “It’s about people recognising who she is and giving her opportunities, and cinema reaching a stage where it deserves her. When people think who can do this, it is only her. She is the only one who can do stuff like this.”

We couldn't agree more. Wishing Tabu a very Happy Birthday.