Film and theatre actor Shaukat Kaifi, mother of Shabana Azmi, passes away

Film and theatre actor Shaukat Kaifi passed away aged 93 on Friday. She was suffering from age-related ailments and was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai.

Shaukat Kaifi was married to veteran lyricist Kaifi Azmi. She is the mother of Bollywood actor Shabana Azmi and cinematographer Baba Azmi. Shaukat and Kaifi Azmi were leading lights of the Indian People’s Theatre Association and the Progressive Writers Association, the cultural wings of the Communist Party of India.

Shaukat Kaifi is remembered for her roles in Garam Hawa, Umrao Jaan, Bazaar, and Salaam Bombay! Her last film appearance was in Saathiya. She published her memoir, titled Kaifi and I, in 2002.

Remembering the veteran actor, Shekhar Kapur tweeted, “Shaukat Azmi. Not just an amazing and loving mother to Shabana and Baba, but to almost everyone that visited her home. She was an Institution in her own right.  Brilliant actor. Shaukat Appa will be missed by all.”

Urmila Matondkar wrote, “RIP Shaukat Azmi a life so very well lived and loved. Consider myself lucky to have spent some precious time with her. My deepest condolences to Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Tanvi Azmi and Baba Azmi.”