Checking in with TABU
4940 Chute Lake Road, Kelowna
Tabu is an award-winning Bollywood actress whose work in films such as “Missing,” “Life of Pi” and “The Namesake” is well known to fans here and in her native India. Now, she makes her television debut in a drama series currently streaming on Acorn TV.
In “A Suitable Boy,” adapted by Andrew Davies (“Pride and Prejudice”) from the novel by Vikram Seth, the 50-year-old actress reunites with “Namesake” director Mira Nair to tell the story of Lata (rising star Tanya Maniktala), a spirited young university student in 1951 India trying to forge her own path while her traditional family tries to find her a suitable husband.
Tabu stars as Saeeda Bai, a courtesan involved in a passionate affair with one potential suitor, Maan (Ishaan Khattar, “Beyond the Clouds”), a charming though directionless young man connected to Lata through their siblings’ marriage.
For the role, Tabu did research on courtesans, essentially women from upper classes who entertained rich men with singing and other charms. She also spoke with author Seth and worked closely with Nair, a collaboration she was more than happy to revisit.
“Working with Mira is and always will be a special experience,” Tabu says. “She’s a force of energy which takes the whole crew with it, and I’m happy to submit to it. She has given me two wonderful characters in my career with ”The Namesake“and now ”A Suitable Boy.“I feel a lot of creative freedom with her on playing my character and I know something beautiful will come out of our collaboration. Also she knows how to make filming a fun experience at times, even when there’s so much happening around. I’m happy to have found her.”
Full name: Tabassum Fatima Hashmi
Birth date: Nov. 4, 1970
Birthplace: Hyderabad, India
Alma mater: Studied at St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai
Family ties: Single; mother Rizwana was a schoolteacher; father Jamal owned a coffee shop; has a sister and a cousin who are actors
Movie credits include: “Coolie No. 1” (1991), “Vijaypath” (1994), “Prem” (1995), “Victory” (1996), “Wife No. 1” (1999), “Hu Tu Tu”
(1999), “Astitva” (2000), “Chandni Bar” (2001), “Shock” (2006), “The Namesake” (2006), “Cheeni Kum” (2007), “Life of Pi” (2012), “Haider” (2014), “Golmaal Again” (2017), “Missing” (2018), “Andhadhun” (2018), “Jawaani Jaaneman” (2020)
Favorite books: “‘Gitanjali,’ (a collection of) poems by Rabindranath Tagore. Also the works of Maya Angelou, Roald Dahl, Premchand.”
Favorite movies: “Jagte Raho,” “The Color Purple,” “The Deer
Hunter,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “La Vie en Rose”
Favorite musical artists: Mehdi Hassan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Michael Jackson
1. “Mr. Smith __ __ Washington”; James Stewart film
2. Baking potatoes
3. Invite
4. Goes bad
5. “The __ and the Pussycat”; Streisand movie
6. Diamond & Sedaka
7. Orange Muppet
8. Boars and hogs
11. “The __ Sullivan Show”
12. Acapulco affirmative
13. Actor Berry
14. __ Wheaton
20. “__ Royale”; James Bond film
“Two and a Half Men”
22. Reese of “Touched by an Angel”
23. Generation
24. Musical discs
25. __ four; iced pastry
26. “__ __ Me” (2009-11)
29. Word from Popeye
30. “Who Wants to __ a Millionaire”
31. Suffix for soft or hard
34. Initials for Barnum of circus fame