Tabu Songs Lyrics

About Tabu

Tabu was born as Tabassum Fatima Hashmi on 4 November 1971 in Hyderabad, India. Her parents were Jamal Hashmi and Rizwana/Rizwanah Naaz. She is the younger sister of actress Farha Naaz and the niece of acclaimed actress Shabana Azmi and filmmaker-cinematographer Baba Azmi.

She spent her early years in Hyderabad and later moved to Mumbai, where she studied at St. Xavier's College. She had an interest in acting from a young age and appeared in a small role in Hum Naujawan (1985) as a teenager.

Tabu's first leading role came in the Telugu film Coolie No. 1 (1991). Her breakthrough in Hindi cinema came with Vijaypath (1994), for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

She established herself as a serious performer with Maachis (1996), directed by Gulzar. Her portrayal of a young woman caught in the Punjab insurgency earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress. She won the National Film Award again for Chandni Bar (2001), in which she portrayed a bar dancer struggling to rebuild her life.

During the 1990s and 2000s, Tabu appeared in a wide range of films, including Virasat, Hu Tu Tu, Astitva, Kaalapani, Maqbool and Cheeni Kum. Her performances often focused on emotionally complex women and earned her repeated Filmfare Critics' Awards.

She also achieved success in mainstream cinema with films such as Saajan Chale Sasural, Border, Biwi No. 1, Hum Saath-Saath Hain and Hera Pheri. Her international work includes Mira Nair's The Namesake (2006) and Ang Lee's Life of Pi (2012).

In later years, Tabu continued to demonstrate her versatility through films such as Haider, Drishyam, Andhadhun, Golmaal Again, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Drishyam 2, Crew and Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha. She has also continued working in major productions in 2026, including Bhooth Bangla and upcoming projects.

Tabu was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2011 for her contribution to Indian cinema. She has won two National Film Awards for Best Actress and numerous other national and international honours.

Personal Details

• Name: Tabu
• Birth Name: Tabassum Fatima Hashmi
• Profession: Actress
• Birth Date: 4 November 1971
• Birth Place: Hyderabad, India
• Death Date: N/A / Still alive
• Film Debut: Hum Naujawan (1985, child/teen appearance)
• First Leading Role: Coolie No. 1 (1991)
• Hindi Breakthrough: Vijaypath (1994)
• Notable Films: Maachis, Virasat, Hu Tu Tu, Astitva, Chandni Bar, Maqbool, Cheeni Kum, Haider, Andhadhun, Drishyam, Drishyam 2, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Crew
• Sister: Farha Naaz
• Aunt: Shabana Azmi
• Uncle: Baba Azmi
• Major Honour: Padma Shri (2011)
• National Film Awards: 2 — Best Actress
• Years Active: 1985–present