Shabana Azmi plays Pakistani mum for BBC series

Adding to her repertoire of diverse roles is Shabana Azmi’s next character in a BBC One series, Capital. The actress plays a strong Pakistani matriarch whose son is accused and incarcerated under charges of terrorism in Britain. Letting us in on her character Shabana says, “Capital is based on journalist-author John Lanchester’s book by the same title. London is chronicled through the residents of a single street named Pepys Road. The Asian family is central to the plot and I play a feisty Pakistani mother whose son is locked up for terrorist activities. She fights back, gets a human rights lawyer and is totally unafraid. She’s funny and domineering, but with a warm heart. I enjoyed the work.”

Shabana has come home with fond memories of young actress Mona Goodwin who plays her daughter-in-law. “We bonded well and have kept in touch after the shooting,” she adds.