Tabu (actress)

Tabassum Fatima Hashmi (born 4 November 1971), professionally known as Tabu, is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films. Widely regarded as one of Hindi cinema's most accomplished actresses, she is known for portraying complex, often troubled women, in both mainstream and independent films. She has received numerous accolades, including two National Film Awards, seven Filmfare Awards (including a record five Critics Awards for Best Actress), and two Filmfare Awards South. In 2011, she was honoured with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award.

Tabu made her first credited appearance as a teenager in Dev Anand's Hum Naujawan (1985) and had her first leading role in the Telugu film Coolie No. 1 (1991). In 1994, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her performance in the Hindi action drama Vijaypath. She received the National Film Award for Best Actress for portraying a young woman affected by the Punjab insurgency in the political thriller Maachis (1996). That same year, she enjoyed commercial success with Ninne Pelladata, Kadhal Desam, Saajan Chale Sasural, and Jeet. Further box-office hits included the dramas Iruvar and Border (both 1997), Biwi No.1 and Hum Saath-Saath Hain (both 1999), as well as Kandukondain Kandukondain and Hera Pheri (both 2000).

Tabu earned critical acclaim for her portrayals of complex women in Virasat (1997), Hu Tu Tu (1999), and Astitva (2000), all of which won her Filmfare Critics' Awards; and as a bar dancer in Chandni Bar (2001), which earned her a second National Film Award. This acclaim continued with her performance in the romantic comedy Cheeni Kum (2007), which garnered her a record fourth Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress, and in the Vishal Bhardwaj-directed Shakespearean adaptations—Maqbool (2004) and Haider (2014), the latter earning her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Tabu expanded into American cinema with The Namesake (2006) and Life of Pi (2012). Her biggest commercial successes in India include the comedies Golmaal Again (2017), Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022)—for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics)—and Crew (2024); the action drama Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020); and the crime thrillers Andhadhun (2018) and Drishyam 2 (2022).

Tabassum Fatima Hashmi was born on 4 November 1971 to Jamal Ali Hashmi and Rizwana in a Hyderabadi Muslim family. Her father was an actor in Pakistan, with some well-received roles in the 1970s, who moved back to India in order to live with her mother. He left the family when she was three. She has an older sister, Farah, who is also an actress. Her mother was a school-teacher and her maternal grandparents were retired professors who ran a school. Her grandfather, Mohammed Ahsan, was a professor of mathematics, and her grandmother was a professor of English Literature.

Tabu did her schooling at St. Ann's High School, Vijayanagar Colony, Hyderabad. She moved to Mumbai in 1983 and studied at St. Xavier's College for 2 years. She is the niece of Shabana Azmi, Tanvi Azmi and Baba Azmi. She has been reluctant to discuss her family life in the media.

As a child, Tabu had an uncredited appearance at the age of 11 in Bazaar (1982), and at the age of 14, she appeared in Hum Naujawan (1985), in which she played Dev Anand's daughter.

Tabu's personal life has been subject to substantial media speculation due to her decision to remain unmarried unlike most of her contemporaries and has remained reticent when asked about her choice. When asked about her decision, Tabu stated that she "was working and wanted to see the world on [her] own. If I'd given it all up, it'd have been a disservice to me and my abilities. An ideal relationship is when both individuals grow by being in each other's lives. Relationships are meant to liberate, not stifle".

In 1987, producer Boney Kapoor launched two major films: Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja and Prem, in which Tabu was signed opposite Sanjay Kapoor, Boney's younger brother. Tabu made her debut in Telugu cinema with Coolie No.1 (1991) co-starring Venkatesh. The film was a major box-office success.