Powerhouse-performer Tabu is undeniably one of the most celebrated actresses of the Indian cinema. In a career spanning over three decades, the iconic star has taken on some of the most challenging roles in cinema and has effortlessly brought even the most complex characters to life on the big screen. While on screen Tabu has defined a complete era of cinema, her impact extends far beyond her filmography. In an industry that often pressures women to conform, she is a true symbol of strength, resilience, and authenticity, that continues to inspire generations.
The Padma Shri recipient and winner of two National Awards as well as several Filmfare Awards, the globally acclaimed actress has time and again proven her acting prowess and paved the way for for a new era of nuanced, powerful female characters in Indian cinema that has even inspired actresses from Vidya Balan to Taapsee Pannu, Shraddha Kapoor to follow the path paved by her! What’s more, the actress with her vision and work has always stayed relevant across generations, a trait that was largely the domain of the heroes!
Most recently the star took New York by storm with her stunning red-carpet appearances for the OTT series Dune: Prophecy! Cheered on by good friends including Oscar-winner Ang Lee and actor-filmmaker Forest Whitaker, Tabu was the toast of the media there. And on her birthday today, here’s looking at 7 reasons that make her a true legend, a global cinema icon and the G.O.A.T.!
RISKY BUSINESS!
The actress has always been a risk-taker when it comes to her choice of roles. From doing an offbeat Chandni Bar back at the peak of her commercial career and making it one of the finest movies in cinema to also be celebrated at the Box Office to taking on intense characters with grey shades, Tabu has never shied from taking on challenging roles head on! Fearless in choices, talented in bringing characters to life with aplomb and honest to a fault, it’s an irresistible combination that make her a rarity in the industry.
WOMAN-POWER!
Her films have been a strong reflection of women in society and with her powerful and dignified portrayals, the actress has brought women-centric films into the limelight as viable commercial projects and getting them the kind of reach such movies deserve, thus being a trailblazer and paving the way for many actresses like Vidya Balan, Radhika Apte and Taapsee Pannu to follow suit.
VERSATILE
Whether it is her natural grasp of highly-nuanced characters in films like Haider, Maqbool, Chandni Bar or Astitva or her impeccable comic-timing in films like Cheeni Kum, De De Pyaar De, Crew, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Golmaal Again, acing thrillers like Drishyam and Andhadhun, Kuttey, Khufiya or winning hearts in romance with The Namesake and Virasat, amongst several others, the actress has always proven that when it comes to essaying roles in any genre, she’s one of the rare ones who can showcase their versatility across all spectrums of cinema so successfully.
PAN-GLOBAL!
Not only has the actress been straddling multiple genres of cinema and also bridging the gap between arthouse and commercial cinema by her seamless transitions, the actress has been reigning hearts globally. Proven her mettle not just in Hindi cinema or the South cinema, she has been garnering accolades globally with her international projects. The Namesake to Life of Pi and most recently the actress has starred in the highly-anticipated OTT adaptation of Dune that only further add to her global appeal and star power.
STRONG, STRONGER, STRONGEST
While on screen Tabu has defined a complete era of cinema, her impact extends far beyond her filmography. In an industry that often pressures women to conform, she is a true symbol of strength, resilience, and authenticity, that continues to inspire generations. And while her body of work stands as a testament to her talent, it is her indomitable spirit that makes her a true legend and an enduring icon in Indian cinema as she continues to reign Box Office and hearts on her own terms.