
Tabu (born Tabassum Hashmi; 4 November
1971) is an Indian film actress. She has mainly acted in Hindi films,
though she has also starred in numerous Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam,
Marathi and Bengali language films, as well as Hollywood films. She has
won the National Film Award for Best Actress twice, and she holds the
record for the most wins of Filmfare's Critics Award for Best Female
Performer, with four.
Despite a few exceptions, Tabu is best known
for acting in artistic, low-budget films that go on to garner more
critical appreciation than substantial box office figures. Her
appearances in commercially successful films were few, and her parts in
these films were small, such as Border (1997), Saajan Chale Sasural
(1996), Biwi No.1 and Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United (1999). Her
most notable performances include Maachis (1996), Virasat (1997), Hu Tu
Tu (1999), Astitva (2000), Chandni Bar (2001), Maqbool (2003) and Cheeni
Kum (2007). Her leading role in Mira Nair's American film The Namesake
also drew major praise. She also co-starred in Ang Lee's film Life of Pi
(2012), which was widely acclaimed.
Regarded as one of the most
talented Indian female actors of her generation, Tabu is known to be
selective about her film roles and has once said, "I do films which move
me and most of all, the unit and the director should appeal to me." She
was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in
2011 by the Government of India for her contributions towards the arts.