New Delhi: Renowned Indian actress and activist Shabana Azmi is in France to attend the ’46th Festival des 3 Continents’, a prestigious event celebrating global cinema. Held annually in Nantes, the festival honors films and filmmakers from Asia, Africa and Latin America and highlights their contributions to the art of storytelling.

This year, Shabana Azmi is being celebrated with a special retrospective marking her illustrious 50-year journey in Hindi cinema. The retrospective includes screenings of his iconic films. This honor underlines his legacy as one of India’s most versatile and socially conscious artists.

Azmi shared her excitement on social media, posting: “Walking the streets of #Nantes. Perfect weather. Screened #Ankur and #Mandi to a packed audience. #Shyambenegal wish you were here.” His heartfelt mention of filmmaker Shyam Benegal reflects the creative partnership that shaped some of his most memorable performances.

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The retrospective will feature a selection of her most acclaimed films including ‘Ankur’, ‘Mandi’, ‘Masoom’ and ‘Arth’, paying tribute to her extraordinary talent and versatility as an actress. Azmi’s films have long been popular with audiences in France, where she has previously received accolades at prestigious venues such as the Center Pompidou and the Cinémathèque, as well as at the Nantes Festival des 3 Continents, where her film Godmother was the opening night feature.

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This year marks 50 glorious years of Azmi’s career, a remarkable achievement which has recently been honored with the prestigious Award for Excellence in Cinema at the Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI). She is the only actress to have won five National Film Awards for Best Actress and has also received multiple Filmfare Awards.

Her international acclaim includes notable performances in Madame Soussatzka (1988) and City of Joy (1992). Most recently, Azmi has appeared in Shekhar Kapur’s What’s Love Got to Do With It, starring Emma Thompson and Lily James, showing how she continues to charm audiences. He also starred in Steven Spielberg’s series Halo, which highlighted his versatility across different mediums. In recognition of his contribution to the arts, he has been awarded India’s two highest civilian honours, the Padma Shri (1988) and the Padma Bhushan (2012).

Apart from her cinematic achievements, Shabana Azmi is also recognized for her commitment towards social issues. In 1989, she was honored at the Biennale of Human Rights in France, selected as one of 16 women, along with notable figures such as Mother Teresa, Rigoberta Menchú and Albertina Sisulu. The honor, presented by President François Mitterrand, acknowledged her important work as a housing rights and women’s rights activist, reflecting her dedication to using cinema as a powerful medium for social change.

The Festival des 3 Continents, held annually in Nantes, showcases films from Africa, Asia and Latin America, promoting cultural diversity and fostering dialogue between filmmakers and audiences around the world.