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Shabana Azmi Becomes First Indian Actor Invited to Conduct Acting Masterclass at Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, New York
The legendary Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York—renowned for training icons like Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro—has bestowed a rare honour on veteran actor Shabana Azmi. After witnessing her acclaimed solo play Broken Images, the institute’s President, Victoria Kraner, personally invited Azmi to conduct an acting masterclass for NYU theatre students.
This invitation marks a historic milestone, making Shabana Azmi the first Indian actor ever to receive such recognition from the institution often regarded as the mecca of acting. When contacted in the US, Azmi expressed surprise and humility, saying, “How did you get to know this so quickly? Yes, I have been invited to hold a masterclass at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. How do I react to this honour?
Like I do to all recognition—just keep working and never stop to admire yourself. If the recognition for your work makes our country proud, then I am happy.”
Recently, Azmi was also seen sharing a warm moment with Robert Ellerman, Director and teacher, and Victoria Kraner, President of the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, highlighting the significance of this landmark invitation.
The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) will present the prestigious Excellence in Cinema Award to Shabana Azmi on October 18. Following this, on October 19, she will conduct a masterclass featuring a conversation with National Award-winning actor Vidya Balan. The session promises to offer deep insights into Shabana Azmi’s remarkable journey and experiences spanning five decades in the film industry.Shabana Azmi recently celebrated an incredible milestone of completing 50 years in Indian cinema.
At the IIFA Awards 2024, she candidly reflected on her career, sharing her thoughts on the journey from her debut film to the present day. In an interview with ANI, she said, “I’m overwhelmed, because when my first film, ‘Ankur,’ was released on September 24, 1974, you would have knocked me down with a feather if you had told me I’d still be working 50 years later. So I’m really grateful for being at the right place at the right time and very grateful that I’m still getting meaningful work.”
This milestone and upcoming MAMI events celebrate Shabana Azmi’s enduring contribution to Indian cinema and her inspiring legacy.
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