Guts and glory: Tabu
There's a storm of pathos behind her saucer-like eyes and curvy smile. She hides a wealth of emotions. And she's able to project them at will, with relative ease. That's the multi-layered Tabu. She has the mystique of a woman. She's never had to resort to the publicity game. She's carved a niche without trying too hard. Detached, aloof and extremely charming, she can cajole you with just the bat of her eyelids. She can be sultry and seductive. She can be naive and funny. The range of her talent is limitless. While her career has never dipped after it hit the high note, matters of the heart have always been a tad dark. Failed relationships and unfair controversies are as much a part of her life, as the multitude of awards.
Elder sister Farha was considered more beautiful of the two and also had fine talent but somehow ended up with the wrong films and a bad marriage.
With actor Nagarjuna. The duo has been close friends since long and have battled several rumours regarding their proximity.
Turbulent stardom
She was the younger sister of actress Farha and niece of Shabana Azmi. She was signed on for Boney Kapoor's Prem (1994) back in the '80s when she was barely 17. Director Shekhar Kapur was influential in her getting the role. But Prem took forever to hit the screen. But she hit a giant wave of popularity with Vijaypath. The song Ruk ruk ruk made her an overnight sensation. Almost instantaneously Tabu featured in a slew of commercial films like Saajan Chale Sasural, Haqeeqat and Jeet.
With aunt Shabana Azmi at the launch of Shaukat Kaifi Azmi's biography Kaifi & I.
Posing with Filmfare's Black Lady. She's got five of them so far. We definitely want her to win more in the years to come.
Critics' favourite
It was with Gulzar's Maachis that Tabu floored the masses and the classes. At the same time her personal life was embroiled in controversy. She was linked with producer Sajid Nadiadwala and Aditya Panscholi. Tabu preferred to focus on her roles; she didn't shy away from South cinema. Her roles in Kadhal Desam and Iruvar were praised. She was also winning accolades for movies like Virasat and Chachi 420. As the millennium drew to a close, there was news of Tabu's closeness to her Aavida Maa Aavide co-star Nagarajuna.
Getting a bear hug from her Cheeni Kum co-star Amitabh Bachchan at the Filmfare Awards (South) ceremony, in Hyderabad.
With Irrfan at the 43rd International film festival of India (IFFI-2012), in Panaji, Goa. The two shared great chemistry in Maqbool.
International icon
Tabu continued to surprise her fans in movies like Hu Tu Tu, Astitva and Chandni Bar. Vishal Bhardwaj's Maqbool added a new negative shade to her as an actor. Tabu was also cast in international projects. Mira Nair's The Namesake got her attention from the West. She won rave reviews for her unique pairing and chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan in Cheeni Kum. Since 2007, Tabu's been a rare sight at the movies. She's devoted her energies to Telugu movies. And Hollywood projects like Ang Lee's Life Of Pi continue to add weight to an already loaded career. As always, she continues to live life on her own terms. And that's how the cookie should crumble.
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