Shabana Azmi Weight Gain for "It’s A Wonderful Afterlife"

Shabana Azmi Weight Gain for "It’s A Wonderful Afterlife"

 If  you see a grossly overweight  woman  waddling  around  the busy streets  of  London looking  like  Shabana Azmi, chances are  it is the mighty Azmi herself  looking   laden with  loads of  weight that she never before carried around.

In fact  those  of us who saw Shabana at  the  Filmfare awards  last February were wondering  what on earth  was wrong with her. But Shabana had begun  preparing  for her part  two months ago, tucking into those sinful calorie-enhancing  goodies with a  relish that only   the committed actor in her could enjoy.

Now  hugely overweight Shabana is having the  time  of her  life playing a hysterical  Punjabi woman for Gurinder Chadha's It's A Wonderful Afterlife .

 This  is the look that she  must  hold  in place  for  the next month and  half,  a  dangerous state  for  her metabolism to be in at her  age. But for Shabana preparation is all.

She had  shaved her head  off for Deepa Mehta's Water. And for  Shayam Benegal's Mandi she had  put on  weight to  look  like  a well-to-do Madame  in  a brothel.

 But  25 kgs  for one role? Laughs Shabana from London, "Yes, you've heard right. I have  put on 25 kgs and I'm waddling  around unrecognizable to all except those  who know  who  I am."

The  experience of  working with  Gurinder Chadha who herself  is  on  the prosperously plump side is  enriching for Shabana. "Gurinder is  in control without being bossy which is  a remarkable  quality  in a  director."

Javed Akhtar has also joined Shabana   in London. "He's here for  the  London  book  fair

My  sister-in-law  Tanvi  and  two of my close friends are coming in  this weekend.So I'm having a ball."

 That  the weighing scale  can be told to   go fly a   kite is  only adding to  Shabana's  enjoyment in London