By Subhash K Jha

A strange coincidence binds the awesome Azmi's two most recent acting assignments. They're both short-films, and first-time directors for Shabana.

While debutant director Rohit Roy's Rice Plate which is part of Sanjay Gupta's Dus Kahaniyan, is ten minutes in duration, the AIDS film Positive in which Shabana gets directed by Farhan Akhtar for the first time,lasts eighteen minutes.

But to Shabana the duration of film is of no consequence.

"Regardless of whether it's a full-length film or a shorter one, the process of inhabiting a character is the same and requires the same effort from an actor.

The challenge of saying everything that needs to be said during a much shorter time-span lies with the writer and director."

Did it feel different working with Farhan just because he's Shabana's son?

"Not really. Farhan is open to suggestions in spite of being sure of what he wants. Earlier I had worked with my daughter Zoya. She was my executive producer in Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd.

I remember she'd come to my hotel room whenever she wanted good khana because she was staying in a ghareeb hotel with the crew!"

Ask the amazing Azmi about the difference in the working styles of Rohit and Farhan and she quips, "Rohit is high-energy, an intense director.

Farhan is cool and laidback and yet very intense.I must say both care deeply about their actors. But Rohit spoilt me a little more because I'm not his mum!"

Prior to Rohit and Farhan, Shabana worked with debutant Manish Acharya in the hilarious satire The Loins Of Punjab Presents. She compares Manishwith Farhan. "Manish knows so much about Hindi films. So does Farhan. They can rattle off trivia about any film."