By Subhash K Jha

Shabana Azmi's home was a beehive of activity on Tuesday when the actress turned, in her words, `a very proud 62`. Guests poured in, since her home is an open house of birthdays.

However the birthday girl was nowhere to be seen. Her husband Javed Akhtar, mom Shaukat Azmi and sister-in-law who greeted an avalanche of guests from theatre, cinema and politics sheepishly kept up a face repeating the line, `Shabana will be back soon. `

However it was a good 3 1/2 hours before Shabana returned.

When we asked about her mysterious disappearance and the panic it created Shabana laughed, `I took off on my own to see Anurag Basu's film Barfi. Can you believe it? On my birthday.

I didn't want any company for the film. I like watching special movies in isolation so that conversation doesn't come in the way. Why on my birthday? Because a good film to be savoured on my own is the best gift I could give to myself. `

Shabana couldn't stop raving about Ranbir and Priyanka's performances in Barfi. `For Priyanka to completely get away from her glamorous image and submerge herself in her characters shows her to be a fearless actress. `

The previous day Shabana brought in her birthday in Mijwan where the villagers gave her a very special gift. `They, for the first time, baked a cake. I was deeply moved. I also inaugurated a school in Azamgarh.

There, the students presented me with many albums of my photos from my films. It was a very special moment for me. I think I am blessed. I really don't need my birthday to feel special. Each day brings its own blessings. `

Shabana says she was delivered into this world by a blind mid-wife. `Can you imagine, a blind mid-wife! We need to empower women at the grassroots level. Mid-wives should be given a chance to be trained in child delivery. It is one way of out-smarting the shortage in rural healthcare. `