Legends in a frame: Shabana Azmi shares throwback image with Noor Jehan, Dilip Kumar

Fans were overjoyed by the picture

Veteran Indian cinema star, Shabana Azmi, took a stroll down memory lane, evoking nostalgia. The actor and activist took to her social media to share a throwback image, the constituent of which is the stuff of legends.

The black-and-white image shared on Twitter by Azmi, accompanied by a caption, featured her, alongside the great Dilip Kumar and the inimitable nightingale, Noor Jehan. “With the two greats,” wrote Azmi.

With the 2 greats #Dilip Kumar and #Noorjehan pic.twitter.com/HARkFVmP0r

— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) May 4, 2023

Fans were overjoyed by the image and could not contain their appreciation for this page out of cinematic history. “Legends of Asia,” wrote one tweep. Another user of the microblogging site wrote, “For me, there are three legends in this picture.”

Legends of Asia ❤️ https://t.co/QOn9fto1JU

— Ayesha Ali Bhutta (@AyeshaBhutta01) May 5, 2023

for me there are 3 legends in this pic https://t.co/g1nnxo16OH

— David (@david_djazz70) May 4, 2023

In 2021, Azmi penned a farewell note for Kumar upon his passing. He died following a prolonged illness. “Adieu Dilip Sahab. Unknown to you I have been your Eklavya. Thank you for the movies. Thank you for the language. Thank you for the dignity. Thank you for being socially responsible. Thank you,” wrote Azmi.

The actor cited the illustration of Eklavya, a prince belonging to the Nishada tribe in the epic Mahabharata. Eklavya held Dronacharya in high regard as his guru and honed his archery skills by practising in front of a statue of his late mentor. This anecdote was used by Azmi to demonstrate her admiration for the revered icon.

Adieu Dilip Saab . Unknown to you I have been your Eklavya.Thank you for the movies.Thank you for the language . Thank you for the dignity . Thank you for being socially responsible.Thank you🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/P5UeMUOQ8t

— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) July 7, 2021

For the uninitiated, Azmi is known for her remarkable performances in critically acclaimed movies and her association with various humanitarian causes. She is the recipient of several accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Actress five times, and the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards.

Noor Jehan was a legendary Pakistani singer and actor who was considered one of the greatest voices of South Asia and was referred to as the "Queen of Melody." Noor Jehan was known for her contributions to the Pakistani film industry and her renditions of ghazals, geets, and film songs in Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi. She received numerous honours and awards for her work and was also recognized by the government of Pakistan with the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, one of the country's highest civilian awards.

Kumar was an iconic Indian film actor who is considered one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema. He was known for his powerful performances in movies such as Mughal-e-Azam, Devdas, and Naya Daur. He was the first actor to receive the Filmfare Award for Best Actor and was also honoured with the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award for Indian cinema.