39 years after Smitha Patil's death, 'Arth' co-star Shabana Azmi reflects on their rivalry: 'Said uncharitable things to her'

Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi—two of the most celebrated figures in Shyam Benegal’s cinematic universe—are often remembered as pioneers of India’s parallel film movement. Despite their mutual acclaim and shared contributions to realistic cinema, the bond between them was far from harmonious. While both hailed from comparable artistic roots and were revered for their emotionally grounded performances, they were frequently compared and viewed as professional rivals.

In a recent candid conversation, Shabana Azmi opened up about the longstanding tension between them. Reflecting on the past, she revealed that her husband, the renowned lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, frequently encouraged her to form a meaningful friendship with Smita. “You both should genuinely connect,” he would tell her. Even Smita’s husband, actor Raj Babbar, attempted to bring about reconciliation. “They hoped we could resolve our differences,” Shabana admitted. “But that never happened. It’s not like the press created it all. There was definitely an inherent rivalry.”

Shabana also addressed persistent rumors suggesting that Smita had lost film roles to her. She dismissed such notions, stating in an interview with Filmfare, “Many of the roles she believed I had taken from her were, in reality, figments of her imagination. That wasn’t the case at all.” Although both actresses were frequent collaborators with director Shyam Benegal, Shabana emphasized that he always had a specific vision for each role. Interestingly, she was initially cast in Manthan, a part that ultimately went to Smita. “Shyam was quite upset with me for turning it down,” she recalled. “He wanted a commitment of 32 days, but I could only offer him 16 due to my other commercial projects. That upset him deeply, and he told me to exit the film.”

The competitive dynamic between the two reached its peak during the making of Mahesh Bhatt’s groundbreaking film Arth, where both actresses were cast. Smita was originally meant to make a brief appearance as a domestic helper—a role eventually played by Rohini Hattangadi—but she requested to play the other woman instead. This change disrupted the narrative balance. Renowned playwright Vijay Tendulkar even remarked that the focus shifted too heavily, noting that the story was supposed to center around Pooja, Shabana’s character, and not the extramarital figure portrayed by Smita.

Their differences even spilled over onto the film set. In one scene, Shabana had to use harsh language, which Smita advised against. Still, after encouragement from Mahesh Bhatt’s then-wife, Lorraine (Kiran), Shabana proceeded, creating palpable strain between them.

Despite the unresolved conflicts, Shabana expressed sorrow for how things unfolded. “We never mended the rift,” she said. “What was broken was never repaired. But her parents were nice to me, and my parents were nice to her. In a strange way, after she passed away, I sort of became a surrogate Smita to her parents. Which baffled me, but it completed the circle. So I regret that I said uncharitable things about Smita. I really regret it. I wish I hadn’t done it."

Smita Patil passed away in December 1986. She is survived by a son, actor Prateik Smita Patil.