Tabu Biography

Name:Tabu 

Date of Birth:04 Nov 1970 

Place of Birth:Hyderabad

Tabu (Hindi:  born Tabassum Hashmi Telugu:) is an award-winning Indian actress who has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and American films.  Tabu has won the National Film Award for Best Actress twice.  Tabu is best known for her critically acclaimed acting in a number of films rather than achieving box office success.

Despite a few exceptions, Tabu is known best for her willingness to play characters in artistic, low-budget films that go on to garner more critical appreciation than they do substantial box office figures such as in Maqbool (2003), Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (2004) or The Namesake (2007).  Tabu  has also acted in a number of commercially successful films such as Vijaypath (1994), Border (1997), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Biwi No.1 and Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United (1999).

Tabu most notable performances include Astitva (2000), Chandni Bar (2001), Maachis (1996), Hu Tu Tu (1999) and Virasat (1997). Known to be selective about her film roles, she has said, "I do films which move me and most of all, the unit and the director should appeal to me."

Early life

Tabu was born in Hyderabad to Jamal Hashmi and Rizwana. Soon after, her parents divorced.  Tabu mother was a school teacher and her maternal grandparents were retired professors who ran a school.  Tabu  grandfather, Mohammed Ahsan was a professor of Mathematics and her grandmother was a professor of English Literature.  Tabu went to St. Anns high school in Hyderabad. Tabu moved to Mumbai in 1983 and studied at St. Xavier's College for two years.

 Tabu  is the niece of Shabana Azmi and the younger sister of actress Farah Naaz.  Tabu  has homes in Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Career

Tabassum "Tabu" Hashmi began her career in the film Hum Naujawan (1985) at the age of fifteen; she played Dev Anand's daughter in the film.  Tabu  first role as an actress was in the Telugu film Coolie No. 1.  Tabu first release in Hindi as a leading lady was Pehla Pehla Pyar which went un-noticed.  Tabu came into prominence with her role in Vijaypath (1994) opposite Ajay Devgan for which she received the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. This was followed by many films that did not do well at the box office.

In 1996, Tabu had eight releases. Two films Saajan Chale Sasural and Jeet went on to be hits; both were within the top five films of that year.  Tabu  other significant film, Maachis, was critically acclaimed.  Tabu role as a Punjabi woman caught in the rise of Sikh insurgency was acclaimed; she went on to win her first National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance.

Tabu first release of 1997 was Border. The movie was about the real life events surrounding the Battle of Longewala during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.  Tabu played the role of Sunny Deol's wife.  Tabu  role was small but the film went on to be the biggest hit of 1997. That year, she also starred in the critically acclaimed film Virasat. The film was a success at the box office; Tabu won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance.