5 times Shobana stole the show and it wasn't in Malayalam cinema

Shobana, a renowned classical dancer and veteran actor, is back in the limelight after her highly anticipated Malayalam film Thudarum starring Mohanlal was a financial success. Her performance in this moving drama has been well-received by critics and moviegoers alike, solidifying her status as a leading lady in Indian cinema.

Although Shobana has mostly gained fame for her brilliant performances in Malayalam and Tamil films, she has also received praise for her efforts in Hindi and English films. In order to showcase her versatility, depth, and elegance, we have compiled a list of her most notable performances from both Hindi and English language films.

Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008)

In this comedy-drama helmed by Priyadarshan, Shobana made an unusual appearance in a breezy Bollywood film, playing the role of Anuradha, Paresh Rawal's romantic interest. The plot of the film centred on a father-son team dealing with love problems in their own lives. The mature and composed performance by Shobana provided a respectful contrast to the film's comedic elements. Her onscreen relationship with Rawal added nuance and warmth to the plot, which was a nice contrast from her usual serious parts.

Dance Like a Man (2003)

Shobana played the role of Ratna, a Bharatanatyam dancer who is married to another artist, in this English-language film adaptation of the critically acclaimed play by Mahesh Dattani. As they strive to fulfil their daughter's dreams, an elderly couple reflects on the decisions they made in their own quest of artistic greatness. The film's dance segments were technically flawless and emotionally impactful because of Shobana's actual mastery of classical dance. She gave a multi-layered and incredibly sympathetic performance as a woman caught between ambition, tradition, and regret.

Swami Vivekananda (1998) - YouTube

The life of the famous Hindu mystic Swami Vivekananda was portrayed in this biographical drama directed by G. V. Iyer. The character that Shobana played, that of a devadasi dancer, was little but had an air of subtle elegance. Her performance was more genuine because of her training in classical dance. The film's spiritual and intellectual tone earned it high praise, and Sarvadaman D. Banerjee and Mithun Chakraborty played Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, respectively. Even though she was only in a supporting role, Shobana's elegant presence made the picture visually appealing.

Apna Asmaan (2007) - YouTube

The difficulties of caring for an autistic child were the subject of this moving Hindi drama. Padmini Kumar, portrayed by Shobana, is the mother of an teenager who gets an experimental treatment to make him smarter. The moral conundrum of changing a child's identity to fit in with society was explored in the film, which also featured Irrfan Khan as her husband. As a woman caught between love, remorse, and ambition, Shobana lent her performance a weighty emotional quality. Given the delicate nature of the subject matter, her subtle and controlled performance was well praised.

Mitr, My Friend (2002) - YouTube

Mitr, My Friend was Revathi's first film as a director, and it has one of her most famous performances in English. Lakshmi, played by Shobana, is a conventional South Indian housewife residing in the United States who, after years of suppressing her emotions, slowly comes to terms with who she is. The film tackled themes such as cultural displacement, self-worth, and loneliness with an all-female team and was revolutionary for its day. For her performance, Shobana was named Best Actress at the National Film Awards. Her sensitive and restrained portrayal of Lakshmi's inner development remains one of her most acclaimed performances.

The timing couldn't be better to rewatch these iconic performances by Shobana, which established her as an enduring icon of Indian film, as audiences are devouring Thudarum.