Tabu's Career Graph: Where does it lead?
Did Tabu make a wrong career choice when she played mum to A-list stars like Shahid and Kat?
As Tabu turned 45 on November 4, she finds herself at a crossroads. In the past few years, there has been a gradual shift in her positioning from leading lady to ‘character’ actress. In the Salman Khan-starrer, Jai Ho, released in January 2014, she played Salman’s sister, while she played mother in Haider and Fitoor, and wife to Rajat Kapoor and not the leading man Ajay Devgn, in Drishyam.
In a gender-biased film industry, while leading men continue to play lover-boys long after they pass their prime, the leading lady almost always loses her sheen after 40.
A director who has worked closely with Tabu and cares deeply for her career, says Tabu has dug her own grave where her career is concerned. “She has made brave choices as an actress. But these choices have shut the door on her career as a leading lady. In Hindi cinema, unless you play romantic leads, you are not considered an A-lister.”
Realising this tragic fact, Tabu’s colleague Kajol has adhered to playing the leading lady’s role after crossing 40, while Tabu, with all her talent, has no assignments in hand.
Presenting a contrasting view, Tabu’s illustrious aunt, Shabana Azmi thinks her career is impervious to dips and curves. “Hits and flops will make no difference to Tabu’s career. She is a class apart and will always be the first choice for strong roles of characters her age. She is a versatile actor and a terrific mimic, like her mother,” she explains.
Writer-editor-director Apoorva Asrani is dazzled by Tabu’s rare appearances on screen. “I was so relieved to see Tabu in Haider. She simply stole the show,” he says.
Elaborating on this, he continues, “Having said that, this same industry has had stalwarts like Bimal Roy, who created powerful female characters; still has Vishal Bhardwaj, who has given Tabu some of her meatiest roles; Shoojit Sarkar who gave Deepika, Piku; and Ram Madhvani who gave Sonam Kapoor Neerja. I am hopeful that more writers will do justice to a phenomenal talent like Tabu.”
As rightly pointed out by film critic Raja Sen, “That the magnificent Tabu finds such rare occasions to dazzle on screen is one of Hindi cinema’s most profound tragedies. Her legacy is assured. As the beholders, the loss is entirely ours.”