Check out: First look of Shabana Azmi in ‘Neerja’

Bollywood’s veteran actress Shabana Azmi has been roped in to play the role of Neerja Bhanot’s mother in the biopic Neerja essayed by Sonam Kapoor. The movie that is being directed by Ram Madhvani has been in the news from the day this biopic has been announced. Sonam Kapoor is playing the role of the youngest recipient of Ashok Chakra.

Neerja Bhanot, the daredevil flight attendant of PanAm, lost her life trying to save the lives of passengers from terrorists on board the hijacked PanAm Flight 73 on September 5, 1986. She was only 22 when she passed away.

Shabana Azmi says, “I had the good fortune of meeting Ramaji in person last year when I was invited to Chandigarh to present the Neerja Bhanot award. She is lovely and we get along really well. When I was offered the role, I felt it was because of special connection we made. Sonam Kapoor is daughter of Anil and Sunita who have been very close friends for more than 30 years. I have watched her grow up and I have deep affection for her. Last but not the least I look forward to work with Ram Madhvani who has been friend of many years and whose taste for cinema I share.”

Presented by Fox Star Studios, Neerja is produced by Bling Unplugged.