Saba Azad is an Indian entertainer, vocalist, and instrumentalist. She is one of the two members of the Mumbai-based electronic duo Madboy / Mink. Saba gained recognition for her portrayal of the lead character in the 2011 romantic comedy MujhseFraaandshipKaroge. The film resonated well with college students nationwide.
More about her
In 2016, she portrayed the character Dingo in Y-Films’ web series, Ladies Room. Saba marked her Bollywood debut in 2006, starring as Raga in the film Dil Kabaddi. Additionally, she has been featured as a model in advertisements for brands like Cadbury, Ponds, Tata Sky, Google, KitKat, Vodafone, and Nescafe.
Early life of Saba
Azad was born in Delhi to a Punjabi father and a Kashmiri mother. She is the niece of theatre great Safdar Hashmi. Born into a theatre family, Azad performed with Safdar Hashmi’s theatre group Jana NatyaManch in their stage productions from a very young age, where she collaborated with Habib Tanvir, MK Raina, GP Deshpande, and NK Sharma. She also trained in dance forms like Odissi, classical ballet, jazz, Latin, and contemporary dance styles. Travelling with her Odissi mentor, Kiran Segal, she performed in and outside the country, including England, Canada, and Nepal.
Her journey with cinema began after schooling when she secured a lead role in a short film Guroor for director Ishaan Nair, which traveled to festivals in New York and Florence. She has since ventured into numerous short films.
Professional life of Saba
She made her Bollywood debut in 2008 with Anil Senior’s “Dil Kabaddi” alongside Rahul Bose. She starred as Preity Sen in Y-Films’ “MujhseFraaandshipKaroge” opposite newcomers NishantDahiya and SaqibSaleem.
Azad is a well-known musician and vocalist in the Indian indie music scene and forms one part of the highly acclaimed electronic duo Madboy/Mink, which she co-founded with actor and musician Imaad Shah in 2012.
Saba Azad established her theatre group, The Skins, in 2010 and directed her inaugural production “Lovepuke,” which premiered at NCPA’s experimental theatre in September 2010.
Azad relocated from Delhi to Mumbai and performed in a two-person play under the direction of Makarand Deshpande at Prithvi Theatre.
She has appeared in advertisements for Cadbury, Pond’s, Maggi, Tata Sky, Google, Kit Kat, Vodafone, Sunsilk, Nescafe, and Airtel, as well as print campaigns for Clean & Clear, Westside, Amway, and various others.
Her stage career
Saba Singh Grewal, better known by her stage name Saba Azad, is a talented Indian performer, theatre director, vocalist, and instrumentalist recognized for her contributions to films, web series, and theatre. She was culturally immersed in cinema, dance, music, and theatre from a young age.
Azad is a trained performer who has mastered various dance forms and styles such as Jazz, Latin, Odissi, contemporary, and classical ballet. She has also showcased her talents in Nepal, England, and Canada, alongside Kiran Sehgal Hrithik Roshan, her Odissi Mentor.
Background of Saba Azad
Azad began her artistic journey at a young age with her uncle, Safdar Hashmi’s theatre ensemble, Jana NatyaManch. During her childhood, she collaborated with theatre veterans MK Raina and the late Habib Tanvir.
Movies of Saba Azad
Azad secured a leading role in Ishaan Nair’s short film Guroor (2007). The 43-minute production garnered acclaim and was featured at festivals in New York and Florence. Subsequently, she participated in numerous short films, including Strangers in the Night (2012), Pure-Veg (2016), and Connected (2019).
Azad made her Bollywood debut in Dil Kabaddi (2008), alongside the late actor Irrfan Khan, Rahul Bose, and Rahul Khanna. Directed by Anil Senior, Azad played opposite Rahul Bose.
In 2010, Azad established her theatre collective ‘The Skins’ to oversee her inaugural play Lovepuke, an adaptation of playwright Duncan Sarkies’ work.
Azad then portrayed the lead role of Preity Sen in Y-Films alongside newcomers SaqibSaleem, and Tara D’Souza. Directed by Nupur Asthana, the film was loosely inspired by Anandam (2001), the Telugu film, and Facebook, the popular social networking platform.
Commercial in which Saba was seen
After relocating to Mumbai, she appeared in advertisements for various brands such as Kit Kat, Vodafone, Sunsilk, Nescafe, Masterstroke, and Dabur, among others. She also featured in print ads for Clean & Clear, Amway, and Westside. Before her foray into Hindi cinema, she performed in a two-person play directed by Makrand Deshpande, staged at Prithvi Theatre.
Music career of Saba
Beyond her acting career, Azad is a prominent vocalist and instrumentalist in the Indian indie music scene. In 2012, she co-founded the electronic duo band, Madboy/Mink, with actor and musician Imaaduddin Shah. Since then, the duo has toured extensively, released music, and performed at various venues.
Azad, a trained vocalist and musician, has contributed her voice to songs in various Hindi films and series, including Dhoom 3 (2013), Shaandaar (2015), Detective ByomkeshBakshy! (2015), Main Aur Charles (2015), Karwaan (2018), MardKo Dard NahinHota (2018), and Farzi (2023).
Series of Saba
Azad also appeared in the web series Ladies Room (2016), starring Shreya Dhanwanthary, and Love Shots (2016), starring Tahir Raj Bhasin, Nimrat Kaur, and Shweta Tripathi, produced by Yash Raj Films.
Azad was featured in the Netflix release Home Stories (2020), starring Arjun Mathur and Apoorva Arora, and the Netflix anthology series, Feels Like Ishq (2021), starring Kappil Shah, Radhika Madan, and RohitSaraf.
She was subsequently seen in the web series Rocket Boys (2022), starring Jim Sarbh.
More about Saba Azad
While she will enchant you with her vocal cords, she will astound you with her dance moves. Unlike the current state of stardom that strips one of control over their identity, Saba Azad has consistently maintained her own while investing in her various talents.
Born into a family deeply entrenched in theatrical arts, Azad spent much of her childhood performing with her Uncle SafdarHasshmi’s theatre group. Azad’s passion for performing arts didn’t end there. She further opted to train in dance styles such as Odissi, Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary. Azad made her debut in Bollywood in 2008 in Dil Kabaddi opposite Rahul Bose. She quickly followed up with MujhseFraaandshipKaroge, a coming-of-age film beloved by millennials and Gen Z, featuring talented industry actors like SaqibSaleem.
While comfort is perhaps one of her defining principles when it comes to decision-making, both in life and sartorially, Azad’s journey has been anything but comfortable. As we delve deeper into the multifaceted performer’s life and journey, we also examine the connection between diamonds and her music and performing arts career. Saba’s choice of the term “legacy” to describe her relationship with diamonds strikes me as more than appropriate. Here are some excerpts from a conversation with the free-spirited artist.
Personal life of Saba Azad
Actress Saba Azad has reportedly been dating superstar Hrithik Roshan since early last year. While the duo have never officially confirmed or denied their relationship, they are often seen making public appearances together at Bollywood events. The couple also often takes to social media to express their appreciation for one another and extend support for each other’s upcoming projects. As such, Saba believes Hrithik is her biggest cheerleader.
• In an interview with Radio Nasha, Saba was asked who she thinks is her biggest cheerleader. She responded, “My partner.” This heartwarming reply from the actress left fans gushing over the couple. While Saba and Hrithik frequently share pictures on social media, they prefer not to discuss their relationship with the press.
• In a previous interview with India Today, Saba expressed her preference for privacy and her discomfort with paparazzi culture. She stated, “I value my privacy greatly, as those close to me can attest. I rarely venture out and cherish my time at home. Consequently, the initial exposure was quite intimidating. It was unsettling. I won’t deny it. I felt vulnerable in a manner I hadn’t experienced before.”
• Currently, Saba is featured in the web series “Who’s Your Gynac?” After watching the series, Hrithik took to Instagram to share a story praising Saba’s performance. He remarked, “Every actor deserves recognition. Thank you for evoking laughter and tears. And @sabazad, you were outstanding. You should be incredibly proud of this achievement.”
Conclusion
Saba Azad – also known as Saba Grewal – wears many hats. She started her journey as a theatre actress and ventured into films and OTT platforms with projects such as MujhseFraaandshipKaroge and web series like Rocket Boys. Her latest prominent role was in Who’s Your Gynac, a miniTV show on Amazon.
Azad is also a skilled musician, who is one-half of Madboy/Mink. The 38-year-old vocalist performed the title track, Sab Farzi, for Shahid Kapoor’s series Farzi. Saba also performed the I Wanna See You Dance, which is included in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’s soundtrack. She is also a voice-over artist. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Azad disclosed that she aspires to direct and create films of her own in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Saba Azad?
• Saba Azad is an Indian actress, vocalist, instrumentalist, and theatre director known for her work in Bollywood films, web series, and theatre productions.
2. What are some notable works of Saba Azad?
• Saba gained recognition for her role in the romantic comedy “MujhseFraaandshipKaroge” and the web series “Ladies Room.” She is also known for her music as one-half of the electronic duo Madboy/Mink.
3. Is Saba Azad primarily known for acting or music?
• Saba is known for both her acting and music. She has appeared in numerous films and web series while also being a prominent vocalist and instrumentalist in the Indian indie music scene.
4. What are some brands Saba Azad has appeared in advertisements for?
• Saba has appeared in advertisements for brands like Cadbury, Ponds, Tata Sky, Google, KitKat, Vodafone, Nescafe, Sunsilk, Airtel, Clean & Clear, Westside, and Amway.
5. Who is Saba Azad’s partner?
• Saba has reportedly been in a relationship with Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan since early last year.
6. What genres of music has Saba Azad contributed to?
• Saba has contributed her vocals and music to various Hindi films and series, spanning genres such as electronic, pop, and indie.
7. Has Saba Azad directed any theatre productions?
• Yes, Saba directed her inaugural production “Lovepuke” under her theatre group The Skins, which premiered at NCPA’s experimental theatre in September 2010.
8. In which countries has Saba Azad performed?
• Saba has performed in countries such as England, Canada, and Nepal, showcasing her talents in dance, theatre, and music.
9. What is the Netflix series in which Saba Azad appeared?
• Saba appeared in the Netflix anthology series “Feels Like Ishq” (2021) and the web series “Rocket Boys” (2022).
10. What are Saba Azad’s future aspirations?
• Saba aspires to direct and create her films in the future, as revealed in an interview with Hindustan Times.
