I don't read namaz, have no association with religion: Shabana Azmi on faith

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi recently opened up about her relationship with faith and upbringing in a household led by an atheist father and a mother who only "casually" practised religion. Opening up about her personal beliefs, the actor shared that she embraces her cultural identity, enjoys Eid festivities, the warmth of Urdu and the food. However, she also admitted that she does not read namaz and holds no formal association with religion, maintaining that faith remains a strictly personal matter.Addressing her upbringing and day-to-day relationship with religious expressions, Azmi recalled how her family environment shaped her views.Speaking in an interaction shared on IIMUN’s YouTube channel, she said, "My father was an atheist. And my mother used to practice it somewhat but not seriously. Like sometimes, I say ‘mashallah’ and ‘inshallah’ but Javed says, ‘Why do you keep saying this? What if someone says ‘prabhu ji ki marzi (God's will)’ all the time, how will you feel?’ But I feel it’s just something that’s a part of my language."Shabana Azmi is the daughter of Indian Urdu poet, lyricist, screenwriter and actor Kaifi Azmi and theatre and film actor Kaifi Azmi.Elaborating on her personal dynamic with Islam and her cultural roots, the veteran actor clarified her stance, adding, "Yes, I am a Muslim, and I like Eid, Urdu, the food, I like all of that. But we don’t read namaz, and we have no association with religion as such."Azmi also touched upon the stark contrast between her perspective and that of her husband, veteran lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar, describing him as a "staunch atheist." Reassuring her belief in personal freedom, she emphasised that faith should strictly remain out of public governance.The 76-year-old said, "The concept of God isn’t anything that I have had to deal with, except that I feel that it’s really a private matter. The state shouldn’t get involved. It’s a private matter and if you feel good after praying, then I don’t have any problem with it at all."Reflecting on broader social dynamics and secularism, Azmi highlighted that extremists from intolerant communities on both sides fail to appreciate her and Javed’s viewpoints, with fatwas on one hand and accusations on the other — a reality she feels only reinforces their secular credentials.Elaborating on the ideological rift, she added, "We need to understand that it is not a fight between Hindu and Muslim, it is a fight between the liberals and the intolerant." She mentioned that both liberal Hindus and Muslims stand together against intolerance, and framing the discussion this way helps "take away the poison of using religion as a way of dividing people."Meanwhile, Azmi was last seen in director Rajkumar Santoshi's period-drama Batwara 1947, set against the backdrop of India-Pakistan's Partition in 1947. It was based on the 1989 play by Asghar Wajahat titled, Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai.Batwara 1947 also featured actors Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Karan Deol, Kanikka Kapur, Ali Fazal, Isha Sandhir and Abhimanyu Singh in key roles. The film theatrically released on August 14, 2026.- Ends