Deepti Naval celebrates 'year of the women' with picture of herself with Shabana Azmi, late Smita Patil
Mumbai, June 8
Acclaimed veteran actress Deepti Naval shared a throwback magazine cover featuring herself alongside renowned star Shabana Azmi and the late Smita Patil.
Deepti took to Instagram, where she shared a magazine cover from 1981, which featured her alongside the two actresses. Talking about the same, Deepti fondly described it as the "year of the women," celebrating an era in Indian cinema when powerful female performers were redefining storytelling.
"1981 - The Year of the Woman!" she wrote as the caption.
The three actresses were the formidable force forming the "parallel cinema" movement in the 1970s and 1980s. Together, they went beyond breaking barriers of traditional, "damsel in distress" formula and replaced it with nuanced characters.
Deepti made her debut in 1978 with Shyam Benegal's film Junoon and was then seen playing a lead role in the film Ek Baar Phir in 1980. She became an actress in 1980s Parallel cinema, playing roles in films like Kamla and Ankahee.
Starting with Chashme Buddoor in 1981, she was often cast with Farooq Sheikhand they became an iconic on-screen couple of the early 1980s, with films such as Chashme Buddoor, Saath Saath, Kissi Se Na Kehna, Katha, Rang Birangi and Faasle.
She hit the brakes in the 1990s and came back in the 2000s with social dramas like Bawandar and Firaaq, Leela, Memories in March and Listen... Amaya.
Deepti was most recently seen in Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders in 2025. The crime thriller film directed by Honey Trehan. The film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Chitrangada Singh with Radhika Apte making a special appearance.
The actress in March took a walk down memory lane, sharing a nostalgic throwback moment on social media.
Deepti took to Instagram, where she shared a few sepia-toned photographs in a camera reel format. In the image, the award-winning actress is seen seated indoors, holding a camera, exuding a calm and introspective presence.
The actress posted a photograph capturing a reflective mood, accompanied by a simple caption: "Another time . . ."
— IANS
Reader Comments
"Year of the Woman" - what a fitting tribute! These three ladies paved the way for today's actresses like Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone. But honestly, I feel the parallel cinema movement of the 80s had a rawness and depth that's missing in today's commercial Bollywood. Smita Patil's performances still give me goosebumps. 🙌
I wish today's film industry would take inspiration from this era. Instead of focusing on item numbers and formulaic masala films, we need more content-driven cinema. Deepti Naval's comeback in 'Raat Akeli Hai' was brilliant - she still has that spark! Shabana Azmi continues to be a national treasure. Smita Patil's legacy lives on.
What a coincidence! I browsed through my parents' old albums last week and found this exact magazine cover. My mother used to say these ladies were her role models. They proved that a woman's place is not just in the kitchen or as a decorative piece in a film. Deepti Naval and Shabana Azmi are still inspiring new generations. Kudos to them for redefining Hindi cinema! 🌸
Respectful criticism here - while I admire these legends, I think we sometimes romanticize parallel cinema too much. Yes, they made great films, but the 80s also had a lot of regressive content. And today, OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon are actually giving us more diverse female narratives than ever before. Actors like Smita Patil would have thrived in this digital age. But yes, these three women are unquestionably iconic. 🇮🇳
K We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.