Dream come true for Shabana Azmi

While many generations of Indian actors hero-worship Shabana Azmi, she worships Norwegian actress Liv Ullman. At the recently-concluded IIFA awards, Shabana got a chance to present a lifetime-achievement award to Liv Ullman, which was a dream-come-true for her.

Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar with Liv Ullmanu00a0

Says Shabana, "I've been her Eklavya. Unknown to her, I've watched and read her, listened to her and learned. For me she's the touchstone of that truth and purity that can be achieved in a performance."

An emotional Shabana recalls, "Liv Ullman started crying when I introduced her and asked me to send her the words I had used. It was overwhelming that a person as celebrated and feted was so moved.

"In addition, she even declared that she has fallen in love with my husband Javed after watching him create a song in front of a live audience." u00a0