Exclusive: Shabana Azmi to play a tree goddess in The Wishing Tree

The last time she did a children’s film Shabana Azmi played a witch in Makdee. Now, in a Netflix film The Wishing Tree which releases on June 9, Shabana Azmi plays the tree goddess. This film directed by debutant Manika Sharma sweeps into the theme of ecological preservation .

“I am doing a special appearance in this very special film. I play the tree goddess. Quite a long way from marrying a tree in Aparna Sen’s Sati.”

Interestingly the voice of the tree in The Wishing Tree is given by Amitabh Bachchan.

So in a way the Big B and Shabana are coming together for the first time since Main Azaad Hoon in 1989.

This week Shabana Azmi will be seen playing the robust, devil-may-care sassy and fearless Dolon Sen in Aparna Sen’s fragilely feisty new English-language film Sonata.

This is Shabana’s fourth film with Aparna Sen, and one that she’s really proud of. “I enjoyed playing my character Dolon Sen. It’s a great part, wilful and funny, with quicksilver mood, and she’s uninhibited. I truly enjoyed the character’s abandon. Dolon is a lovely part and it was very generous of Rina (Aparna Sen) to give it to me rather than keep it for herself.

Dolon is quicksilver in her changing moods, whimsical, childlike demanding and yet warm and loving. Hindi cinema mein kahaan milte hain aise shades?” quips Shabana.

Shabana and her fans have a lot to look forward to in 2017. “This year I’ve five releases and all the parts very different from one another,” Shabana says.