by Subhash K Jha

Everyone knows Shabana Azmi is playing her mother, the formidable Shaukat Azmi's role in J.P. Dutta's Umrao Jaan.

However what's not so well known is that it was Shabana's old friend and colleague Rekha who suggested that Shabana step into her mother role.

Says Shabana, "Rekha had played my mother's daughter in Muzaffar Ali's Umrao Jaan. It was she who insisted that I do my mother's role in JP's version of the same story. In fact Rekha insisted I do it. That's how I decided to approach JP for the role," Shabana recalls affectionately.

Rekha and Shabana go back a long way. They did a number of films together in the 1970s including Ek Hi Bhool and Raaste Pyaar Ke. Some years ago Rekha chickened out of Deepa Mehta's Fire arguing , "I can kiss Nandita Das twenty times but not THAT (lesbian) way." Shabana got the chance to do one of her best roles ever.

Rekha has a special name for Shabana ...and it's Munni!

Shabana has worked with Rekha's Umrao Jaan director in Anjuman. But not with the maker of the new Umrao Jaan, though her other half Javed Akhtar has written some of his best lyrics for JP's cinema.

Rituparno Ghosh who wants to cast Shabana and Ash as mother and daughter feels they are physically convincing in the roles.

"It's avery emotional moment for me to be doing a role that my mother has done," says Shabana.

And she has Rekha to thank for the opportunity.

Female Friendships In Filmdom That Have Outlasted Professional Rivalry.

Padmini Kolhapure & Poonam Dhillon(close but unable to meet that often)
Asha Parekh & Shammi(friends and close companions to this day)
Waheeda Rehman & Nanda(infrequent interaction but friends for life)
Manisha Koirala & Deepti Naval(have gone on unplanned holidays together)
Shabana & Urmila(came close during the shooting of Tehzeeb , have kept in touch since then)
Kareena & Esha Deol(thick as thieves at one time, don't speak any more)