I'm singularly lucky to have worked with directors who dared me

Shabana Azmi, one of the most luminous figures of Indian cinema, once declared: “I'm singularly lucky to have worked with directors who dared me to take risks and be different and I am thankful to the Indian film industry for giving me my primary identity.” These words hold the gravity of both gratitude and destiny. They reveal a truth that transcends the world of cinema: that we are shaped not only by our own choices but by the courage of others who challenge us to grow, and by the communities that grant us our place in the world.

The origin of this statement rests in Azmi’s long and illustrious career in the Indian film industry, where she was not only celebrated for her talent but also for her boldness in choosing unconventional roles. At a time when actresses were often confined to predictable characters, she stepped into narratives that carried weight, social critique, and artistic risk. She was empowered by directors who dared to see more in her, who gave her opportunities to stretch beyond the safe and familiar. Her gratitude, then, is twofold: to those individuals who tested her boundaries, and to the wider industry that gave her recognition and identity.

History offers us many mirrors to her journey. Think of Sophocles’ Antigone, who defied expectations to stand firm in her convictions; or of Galileo Galilei, who was supported by patrons daring enough to let him publish truths that challenged the cosmos of belief. In every era, greatness is not born in isolation—it flourishes when bold souls meet mentors and patrons who dare them to walk roads not yet trodden. Azmi’s words echo this ancient truth: courage is contagious, and gratitude must always follow those who lent us their daring.

At the heart of her statement lies the wisdom of identity through risk. To play safe roles, to walk only where others have walked, may bring comfort, but it does not forge identity. It is in stepping into danger—the risk of failure, of criticism, of being misunderstood—that a true self is born. Azmi acknowledges that her primary identity as an artist and as a voice of her generation came not from comfort but from challenge, and she is thankful for the crucible that shaped her.

To the youth, the lesson is clear: seek out those who will dare you to grow. Do not be afraid of risk, for within it lies the seed of your true self. And when you find mentors, teachers, or leaders who stretch you beyond your comfort, honor them with gratitude. For they are the unseen architects of your destiny.

To the elders and those who guide others, this teaching is also profound. Dare to challenge those in your care. Do not only protect them with safety but gift them with risk, for it is in risk that greatness emerges. And when they succeed, know that your courage in believing in them will live on in their story.

The eternal wisdom is this: identity is forged in the meeting of daring and gratitude. Without daring directors, Shabana Azmi may never have become the icon she is. Without her gratitude, her triumph would be incomplete. She teaches us that our greatest thanks must go to those who saw more in us than we saw in ourselves, and to the communities that received us and gave us a name.

Thus, let the teaching be passed down: do not shrink from risk, for in it your true identity will be revealed. And when your destiny unfolds, speak your gratitude, for gratitude seals your legacy in the hearts of generations yet to come.