Tabu

Tabu (Hindi: तब्बू) (born Tabassum Hashmi (Telugu: తబస్సుం హష్మి) on November 4, 1970) is an Indian film actress. She has mainly acted in Hindi films, though she has also starred in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali language films, as well as one American film in English. She has won the National Film Award for Best Actress twice, and is best-known for her critically acclaimed acting in a number of films rather than achieving box-office success.

Despite a few exceptions, Tabu is best known for acting in artistic, low-budget films that go on to garner more critical appreciation than they do substantial box office figures such as in Maqbool (2003), Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (2004) or The Namesake (2007). She has also acted in a number of commercially successful films such as Vijaypath (1994), Border (1997), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996), Biwi No.1 and Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United (1999). Her most notable performances include Astitva (2000), Chandni Bar (2001), Maachis (1996), Hu Tu Tu (1999) and Virasat (1997). Known to be selective about her film roles, she has said, "I do films which move me and most of all, the unit and the director should appeal to me."