Safia/Safdar out on OTT: Where to watch, plot details, and more about Naseeruddin Shah, Kanwaljit Singh's social drama
Safia/Safdar, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Kanwaljit Singh, and Aditi Subedi, is now streaming on OTT. The film was selected for the Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2025.
Safia Safdar
Last Updated: 03.57 PM, Jan 16, 2026
Safia/Safdar got a direct OTT release on ZEE5 on January 16. You can also watch it with your OTTplay Premium subscription. The Hindi film was selected for the Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2025, and it stars Naseeruddin Shah, Aditi Subedi and Kanwaljit Singh in the lead roles.
What's the plot of Safia/Safdar?
Safia/Safdar follows the story of Safia (played by Aditi Subedi), who studies Engineering at Delhi College. Meanwhile, her father is a local barber. She has a sister whose marriage is almost fixed, and her mother is a housewife. Everything goes well until one day when her father falls seriously ill and becomes paralysed.
Safia takes on the responsibility of providing for her family after her father is struck by paralysis. The narrative centres on her battle for identity and survival in a patriarchal world. The title's slash (Safia/Safdar) suggests a dual existence or gender disguise, where the protagonist lives under a male name to navigate and survive in a male-dominated society.
Shabana Azmi on Safia/Safdar
Safia/Safdar is directed by Baba Azmi, the brother of Shabana Azmi. Earlier speaking to ETimes, the veteran actress said, “Safia/Safdar is Baba Azmi’s second directorial venture and is releasing on January 16. It stars Naseeruddin Shah, Kanwaljit Singh and Aditi Subedi. The film follows a young girl who rises to the challenge of providing for her family after her father is struck by paralysis. Aditi is from Mijwan, the village where I run an NGO called the Mijwan Welfare Society for the empowerment of the girl child.”
Meanwhile, actor Kamna Pathak, who attended the screening of Safia/Safdar, reviewed the film and wrote on Threads, "Watched Safia/Safdar such a beautiful, heartfelt story. A simple, lovely film, so beautifully directed by Baba Azmi Sir. Sir ji Charan Sparsh And Aditi… you were absolutely superb. Every time I watch you, you surprise me more," she said. She congratulated Baba Azmi and also the entire cast and said it was truly lovely work.
Safia/Safdar FAQs
Q: Who directs Safia/Safdar?
A: Shabana Azmi's brother, Baba Azmi, directed Safia/Safdar, which was selected for the Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2025.
Q: Who stars in Safia/Safdar?
A: Safia/Safdar stars Naseeruddin Shah, Aditi Subedi and Kanwaljit Singh.
Q: Where to watch Safia/Safdar?
A: Safia/Safdar will land on ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium) on January 16, 2026.