Biography
Who is Tabu?
Early life and real name
Tabu was born as Tabassum Fatima Hashmi on November 4, 1971, in Hyderabad, India. Her parents are Jamal Ali Hashmi and Rizwana. Her father was an actor who left the family when she was three years old, while her mother worked as a school teacher. Her maternal grandparents were retired professors who ran a school, with her grandfather Mohammed Ahsan working as a mathematics professor and her grandmother teaching English literature. She grew up in a Hyderabadi Muslim family alongside her older sister Farah, who also pursued an acting career.
As a child, Tabu attended St. Ann's High School in Secunderabad and later in Hyderabad. She made an uncredited appearance in the film Bazaar at the age of eleven. Later, she moved to Mumbai in 1983 and studied at St. Xavier's College for two years. Her extended family includes well-known film personalities, as she is the niece of Shabana Azmi, Tanvi Azmi, and Baba Azmi.
Acting career and breakthroughs
Tabu made her first credited appearance as a teenager in Dev Anand's Hum Naujawan in 1985, playing the role of his daughter. She secured her first leading role in the Telugu film Coolie No. 1 in 1991, which became a major box office success. In 1994, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her performance in the Hindi action drama Vijaypath, marking the beginning of numerous collaborations with actor Ajay Devgn.
She earned her first National Film Award for Best Actress by portraying a young woman affected by the Punjab insurgency in the political thriller Maachis in 1996. That same year, she starred in the commercial hits Ninne Pelladutha, Saajan Chale Sasural, and Jeet. Her career continued to expand with roles in major films such as Border, Biwi No. 1, Hum Saath-Saath Hain, Hera Pheri, and Kandukondain Kandukondain through the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Critical acclaim and later success
Tabu earned significant critical acclaim for portraying complex, troubled women in various regional language films. She won multiple Filmfare Critics Awards for Best Actress for her work in Malayalam and Hindi projects like Kaalapani, Virasat, Hu Tu Tu, and Astitva. She won her second National Film Award for Best Actress for her memorable portrayal of a bar dancer in the film Chandni Bar in 2001.
In later years, she delivered acclaimed performances in adaptations such as Maqbool and Haider, winning a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the latter. She also expanded into international cinema with roles in The Namesake and Life of Pi. Her later commercial successes in India include Golmaal Again, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Andhadhun, Crew, and Drishyam 2, cementing her status as one of India's most accomplished actresses.
Height and personal life
Tabu stands at a height of 169 centimeters. Her personal life has frequently been the subject of substantial media speculation due to her decision to remain unmarried, unlike many of her contemporaries. She has generally remained reticent when asked about her choice in interviews.
When questioned about her decision to stay single, Tabu stated that she wanted to work and see the world on her own terms. She noted that relationships should liberate rather than stifle individuals, allowing both partners to grow by being in each other's lives.
Birthday and age
Tabu was born on November 4, 1971, which makes Tabu 54 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Tabu shares the date with 26 other famous people.
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