TABU, SHORT FOR TABASSUM, has acting in her genes. Her aunt is Shabana Azmi and her sister Farha Naaz. It was while she was visiting Farha in Mumbai that Dev Anand spotted her and gave her a small part in 'Hum Naujawan' ” a particularly gruesome one for a kid, since she was raped and murdered in the film. Sis Farha discouraged Tabu from getting into films and packed her off to college to complete her education. But when Boney Kapoor's 'Prem' was offered to her (apparently on Shabana Azmi's recÂommendation) opposite the producer's brother Sanjay Kapoor, she could not refuse. UnfortuÂnately for her, she signed a conÂtract that forbade her from signAing any films till 'Prem' was reÂleased and since the film took over five years to complete, it turned out to be an endurance test for Tabu. Just when her patience was running out, and she was batÂtling rumours of a romance with Sanjay, an acrimonious split with Farha and some other unpleasÂAant gossip, the Kapoors finally released her from the contract and her 'Roman Holiday'-in-spired 'Pehla Pehla Pyar' was released.
It bombed, so did 'Prem', though it was no fault of Tabu's. She had grace, charm, a natural beauty and loads of talent. The girl who was shy and reticent in person was completely transformed on screen into a confident actress. The extent of her talent was not immediately evident though, since in a desperate attempt to keep her head above water, she had signed some very ordinary films like 'Vijaypath', 'Himmat', 'Tu Chor Main Sipahi' and 'Saajan Ki Baahon Mein'. 'Haqeeqat' with Ajay Devgan, in which she played a widow who unwittingly falls in love with her husband's killer, was a flop, but showed the first glimmer of what she could do with a really meaty role. It took the expert eye of Priyadarshan ('Saza-E-Kalapani') andGulzar ('Maachis') to recognise the potential in Tabu and give her the chance to prove it. She won acclaim for 'Saza-E-Kalapani' even in the very small role of a bride abanÂdoned on her wedding day; and a well-deserved National Award for'Maachis' in which she played a young woman who loses her family and joins a terrorist outÂfit to take revenge against the system that brutalised her people.
Tabu appeared without make-up in dowdy clothes, yet inAfused such intelligence and pasÂsion into the role that she won the National Award in the teeth of competition from more expeÂrienced actresses. Even though she has done typiÂcally commercial films like 'Saajan Chale Sasural' and 'Biwi No. 1', Tabu believes that she hasn't got her due because she was stamped as an art film actress. ^She tried to do glamorÂous roles, specially in Tamil, Telugu and also a few Malayalam films, but always returned to do more challenging and satisfying roles in films like 'Viraasat' and 'Hu Tu Tu' Fact is that Tabu, with her model-like height and beauty, may pass off as a dumb potboiler kind of heroine, but directors who want a leading lady who can act well, automatically make a beeline for her — like Govind Nihalani for 'Thakshak' and Rajiv Menon for 'Kandukondain Kandukondain'. By now, she has honed her acting skills so much that she is incapable of giving a bad performance, even if it is a two-scene role like in 'Border'. Perhaps what also came in the way of her career, was the openly admitted romance and engagement with producer Sajid Nadiadwala, now reportedly off. But the way the male-domiÂnated film industry functions, not only are the heroes wary of acting with a very talented acÂtress, they also stay away from leading ladies who are in committed relationships. There are new and fresh faces being introduced regularly and today's heroines are required to be sexy rather than talenTED.
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