Veteran actor Shaukat Kaifi passes away

Veteran actor and Shabana Azmi's mother Shaukat Kaifi passed away in Mumbai last evening due to age-related illness at the age of 93. Kaifi's son-in-law, noted writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, confirmed the news of the death of the theatre and film actor. The last rites will be held this noon.

Kaifi's husband was the celebrated Urdu poet and film lyricist, Kaifi Azmi. She and her husband were leading lights of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and the Progressive Writers Association (IWA), which were the cultural platforms of the Communist Party of India. Also credited as Shaukat Azmi,



Kaifi's acting credits include 'Bazaar', 'Umrao Jaan' and Mira Nair's Oscar-nominated film 'Salaam Bombay' Her last film was Shaadi Ali's 'Saathiya'.

After Kaifi Azmi's demise in 2002, she wrote an autobiography, 'Kaifi and I' which has also been adapted to a play 'Kaifi aur Main'. It premiered in Mumbai in 2006 on the fourth death anniversary of Kaifi Azmi. Many personalities from Bollywood including actor Dia Mirza, theatre personality Danish Husain condoled the demise of Shaukat Kaifi, saying her contribution to art will always be remembered.