137 Shabana Azmi Movies, Ranked Best to Worst

This is a Hindi language film focusing on the lives and feelings of the blind people. Anirudh, the blind principal of a blind school, leads a dark existence until he meets Kavita, who has been recently widowed.  At his request, Kavita starts volunteering in his school and slowly a bond begins to develop between them. But there are hindrances on the way. 

This award-winning drama film tells the story of Vishwam, son of a rich and influential landlord. Unlike his brothers, Vishwam has no vices, and doesn’t indulge in drinking or women. However, he gets obsessed with Sushila, the new schoolmaster’s wife, even though he is married. Eventually, he gets her kidnapped. 

This is an award winning Hindi language film, depicting the story of Rukmini Bai, an aging brothel madam in Hyderabad. Very proud of her girls, she is especially protective about Zeenat and does not allow her to engage in prostitution. Then one day, Zeenat meets Sushil and the two fall in love, unaware that she has been sired by Sushil’s father.   

This period film takes us back to the time of India’s 1857 War of Independence.  The film tells the story of an obsessed Indian Nawab who desires to wed a young Anglo-Indian woman. However, the girl’s mother stands between them, and refuses to allow them to marry. 

Albert Pinto is a young car mechanic who idolizes the rich and despises workers who go on strike. He has a change of heart when his father, a mill worker, is abused at work. Albert realizes the rich are to blame for the workers' pitiful conditions.

When village benefactor schoolmaster is killed by the cruel landlord, poor labourer Naurangia hits back by killing landlord’s brother. He and his pregnant wife, Rama, flee from law, but find it difficult to subsist. They accept the job of driving a pigs’ herd to earn their fare back home. As they swim with pigs across a wide raging river, Rama fears for her unborn baby. 

Khandhar is a drama film which tells the story of a photographer named Subhash, who has come to take pictures of a few old temples as well as the ruins in a village. He soon meets a young woman named Jamini, and finds himself attracted to her.

Neerja is a biographical drama thriller film which takes us to 1986 and revolves around a young flight attendant named Neerja. When the plane she is in, gets hijacked by terrorists, she does her best and even risks her life, to save the life of the passengers.   

This is a family drama film centering on Avtaar Kishen and his wife Radha. The plot thickens when after decades of struggle he settles down to a moderately successful life and learns that the house he has built has been registered in the name of his daughter-in-law. He immediately leaves home, accompanied by Radha and a loyal servant called Sewak. 

DSP Shamsher Singh adopts Amit, the new-born son of bandit Mangal Singh and brings him up alongside his own son, Kishan. As they grow up, Kishan believes that he is bandit’s son, and surreptitiously joins Mangal’s nefarious activities. When Amit becomes an honest police officer, he learns about Kishan’s criminal actions. Finally, how do they find out the truth about their biological-family? 

Ashanti is a crime adventure action film which tells the story of Inspector Kumar Chandra Singh, who is wrongly accused of a crime, and sent to prison. After hearing this, his mother dies of shock. Eventually, he is released from jail, but his only mission now is to find the culprits who framed him and ruined his life.  

After the death of his father, it is up to Arun to take care of his step mother and his step sisters. Due to loss in businesses, they go through several struggles, and this eventually leads to a divorce between Arun and his wife Neema. After the divorce court judgment, Arun is unable to meet his son for many years.

Swami is a romantic drama film which tells the story of a young girl living in a village, who has interest in literature and philosophy, and wants to pursue a career in academics. She soon falls in love with a young man named Narendra, who studies in Calcutta, but her family gets her married off to another man named Ghanshyam.

Hum Paanch is an action drama film which tells the story of five men who join hands to destroy Thakur Vir Pratap Singh, a cruel landlord who rules over a town, and kills anyone who dares to oppose him.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a suspense drama film which tells the story of a Pakistani man who wants to achieve corporate success on Wall Street.  However, he soon finds himself in conflict between his American dream and his beliefs.

Vijay is a criminal who robs the rich and helps the poor and the needy. Eventually, to bring him to justice, a man named Ajay is hired for the job. However, neither of them are aware that they are actually brothers who were separated at quite a young age.

Ram and Sadhana are a wealthy married couple. However, Ram cheats on Sadhana with her best friend Urvashi. Although Ram confesses the truth and tries to convince her to forgive him, Sadhana refuses and files for divorce. Ten years later, she meets Ram and learns that he is the manager of the office where she works. Realizing that they are also neighbors, Ram tries to rekindle their relationship.