This versatile Bollywood actress, known for her powerful performances and timeless charm, turns 54 today. From intense dramas to lighthearted romances, she has breathed life into every role she’s taken on.
We’re talking about none other than Tabu, known for her grace, talent, and powerful performances in Indian cinema. Over the years, she has made her mark as one of the most versatile and respected actresses, shining in both meaningful and mainstream films.
Tabu’s Career Highlights
Tabassum Fatima Hashmi, known as Tabu, was born on 4 November 1971 in Hyderabad. She is one of Hindi cinema’s most respected actresses, famous for playing deep, complicated women in both big commercial movies and smaller, artistic films.
Tabu has won many awards: two National Film Awards, seven Filmfare Awards (including a record five Critics Awards for Best Actress), two Filmfare Awards South, and in 2011 she received the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour.
She first appeared as a teenager in Dev Anand’s Hum Naujawan (1985) and had her first lead role in the Telugu film Coolie No. 1 (1991). Her Hindi breakthrough came with Vijaypath (1994), which earned her the Filmfare Best Female Debut.
Tabu won her first National Award for Maachis (1996), where she played a young woman affected by the Punjab insurgency. That same year she also had several hits, Ninne Pelladata, Kadhal Desam, Saajan Chale Sasural, and Jeet. Later box office successes included Iruvar and Border (both 1997), Biwi No.1 and Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999), and Kandukondain Kandukondain and Hera Pheri (2000).
She earned Filmfare Critics Awards for strong roles in Virasat (1997), Hu Tu Tu (1999), and Astitva (2000), and won a second National Award for her role as a bar dancer in Chandni Bar (2001). Her later acclaimed work includes Maqbool (2004) and Haider (2014) the latter won her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress and the romantic comedy Cheeni Kum (2007), which also earned a Critics Award.
Tabu has worked internationally too, appearing in The Namesake (2006) and Life of Pi (2012). Some of her biggest recent hits in India are Andhadhun (2018), Golmaal Again (2017), Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020), Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) for which she won the Filmfare Critics Best Actress Drishyam 2 (2022), and Crew (2024).
Tabu and Nagarjuna’s Rumoured Relationship
While her professional life has always been celebrated, Tabu has also made headlines for her personal life. In the 1990s, she was romantically linked with Telugu superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni, who was 12 years older and already married at the time.
The two reportedly shared a close bond for nearly a decade. However, Nagarjuna was unwilling to end his marriage, and Tabu eventually accepted that their relationship had no future. The pair reportedly parted ways amicably, and since then, Tabu has chosen to remain single.
Also Read: Tabu Net Worth: A Look Inside Her Lavish Lifestyle, Cars, Home And More
