Shabana Azmi surprised audiences by revealing her family connection with veteran actress Sulabha Arya at an award ceremony. The actress also shared a heartfelt message for her sister-in-law, leaving her visibly surprised.
Gayatri Rani
November 01, 2026 / 12:21 IST
Shabana Azmi with Sulabha Arya
Veteran actress Sulabha Arya, well-known to viewers for her memorable role as Samar’s grandmother in the series Veen Doshtali Hi Tutena, is the sister-in-law of the legendary actress Shabana Azmi.
Shabana Azmi herself revealed her connection to Sulabha Arya to the public at the award event, which she attended to celebrate and honour her relative.
During the event, the veteran actress said, “Mera naam Shabana Azmi hai aur pata nahi aap mein se kitne logo ko malum hai ki Sulabha Arya ji meri bhabhi hain (My name is Shabana Azmi, and I’m not sure how many of you are aware that Sulabha Arya-ji is my sister-in-law).”
She added, “Hamare parivar mein yeh hota hai ki hum dusro ki taarif toh bahut zor shor se karte hain lekin apne parivar ke kisi sadasya ko agar koi bhi parinam mil raha hai, koi bhi award mil raha hai toh hum usko ghar ki murgi daal barabar dete hain (In our family, it’s often the case that while we shower others with enthusiastic praise, we tend to undervalue the achievements or awards earned by our own family members—treating them as if they were of little consequence).”
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Shabana Azmi added, “Toh mujhe yakeen hai ki mujhe dekh ke Sulabha ji ko bhi bahut hairat hui hogi. Ho gayi hai bilkul. Shock laga hai actually. Toh itne saare saal tak jab main aapse jhagadti hui aayi hoon, toh uski maafi chahte hue, main aapko kehna chahti hoon ki aapko bahut-bahut-bahut mubarak ho. I’m very very proud (I am sure that seeing me must have come as a huge surprise to Sulabha-ji. She is completely taken aback—truly shocked! So, after all these years of bickering with you, I would like to offer my apologies and say: many, many, many congratulations to you! I).”
How is Sulabha Arya related to Shabana Azmi?
Sulabha Arya, who comes from a traditional Marathi family, married cinematographer and actor Ishaan Arya in an interfaith union. The family connection linking these two veteran actresses runs through their paternal lineage.
Shabana Azmi is the daughter of the celebrated late legendary Urdu poet and lyricist Kaifi Azmi. Ishaan Arya’s mother was the sister of Shabana Azmi’s father, which makes Ishaan Arya the son of Shabana’s maternal uncle.
Showing strong family support, Shabana Azmi made a special appearance at the award ceremony to praise and cheer for her sister-in-law, offering a heartwarming glimpse into the personal bond they share away from the silver screen.
Gayatri Rani is a Senior-Sub Editor with over three years of experience in delivering Hollywood and Bollywood news.
first published: Nov 1, 2026 12:21 pm
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