Shabana Azmi, former Indian Parliament Member and world-renowned actress, joins TeachAids efforts

Cultural icon Shabana Azmi's familiar voice will soon be heard across India, giving millions the necessary knowledge to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS, in the latest version of the TeachAids animations. Passionate about improving human health and welfare, Azmi gifted her voice for the English, Hindi and Urdu TeachAids animations at Octavius Studio in Bandra, Mumbai. Azmi's husband, Javed Akhtar, internationally-acclaimed writer, lyricist, and poet, generously advised on the Urdu TeachAIDS script.

Azmi is one of India's most renowned actresses and has played a role in over 100 films, spanning the Hindi, parallel, and foreign genres. Azmi is a five-time winner of the National Film Award for Best Actress and four-time winner of the Filmfare Best Actress Award. In addition to her tremendous contributions to the film industry, Azmi is also highly regarded for her social activism. Throughout the years, she has been awarded countless honors and recognitions, including the Gandhi International Peace Award, the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award, and the Padma Shri from the Indian government. She is a member of the National AIDS Commission of India and was nominated in 1997 as a member of the Rajya Sabha. Azmi is also the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis.

Photo: Shabana Azmi recording her voice for the TeachAids animations at the Octavius Studio in Mumbai