On her birthday, Shabana Raza Bajpayee’s journey from actor to producer finds a new chapter

Shabana Raza Bajpayee has films like Kareeb and Fiza to her name.

July 26, 2025 - 7:13 PM IST

In an industry where legacy often sets the tone, Shabana Raza Bajpayee’s entry into Hindi cinema was refreshingly unfiltered. Without a film family or insider backing, she made her debut in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Kareeb in the late 1990s. The film introduced her as a fresh face with expressive eyes and an understated presence — a departure from the crafted glamour usually expected of new talent.

On her birthday, Shabana Raza Bajpayee’s journey from actor to producer finds a new chapter

Her early years saw her taking on roles in films like Fiza, Rahul, and Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet. These weren’t headline-chasing parts, but they showcased a performer who could carry emotional depth with minimal fuss. While not all the films found commercial success, Shabana stood out for her natural screen presence. She may not have been prolific, but the roles she chose made a mark.

Her personal life shifted focus when she married Manoj Bajpayee in 2006. The couple has since kept a low profile, raising their daughter away from the constant churn of film publicity. While Manoj’s career continued its upward trajectory, Shabana consciously stayed away from acting, choosing instead to invest in family and privacy — a decision rarely seen in the industry.

Now, years later, she’s back — not in front of the camera but as a producer. With the launch of Aurega Studios, Shabana has stepped into a new role in the film ecosystem. The studio’s first project, Bhaiyya Ji, marks Manoj Bajpayee’s 100th film and also signals Shabana’s return to cinema in a meaningful capacity. The film, with its blend of action and emotional drama, has a distinctly personal stamp, and her involvement from the ground up speaks to her growing influence behind the scenes.

As she celebrates her birthday, Shabana Raza Bajpayee’s journey offers an alternate narrative — one that moves away from overexposure and instead values timing, perspective, and substance. From an actor who arrived without noise to a producer building her own space, her career path continues to evolve in ways that reflect thought and intention.

Shabana Raza Bajpayee shared about her journey saying, “I was a hands‑on mom until a year ago. Our daughter Ava is now in boarding school, so I have the time and mind space to consider other things. I was offered roles even when the OTT space came into focus, but I chose not to take them up. I thought that if I were to come back as an actor, it had to be something special. There was a time when Manoj wanted to do a certain kind of films and I told him why we don’t go ahead and produce those, so that we can follow our heart. Manoj was a little uncertain, but this progression was organic.”

Also Read: Manoj Bajpayee salutes his guru: “Naseeruddin Shah changed the way we look at acting”