Born on April 18, 1975, Shabana Raza was christened Neha after her screen name in her Bollywood debut Kareeb, by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Neha starred opposite Bobby Deol in the 1998 film, which didn't make any mark at the Box Office. (All photos/mid-day archives, AFP, Manoj Bajpayee's Instagram account)
Neha went on to do more films like Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet (1999) opposite Ajay Devgn, Fiza (2000) opposite Hrithik Roshan, Ehsaas: The Feeling (2001) opposite Suniel Shetty, Rahul (2001) opposite Jatin Grewal, but could not find much success.
Neha apparently never harboured ambitions to act in films. She was studying in Delhi, when the makers of Kareeb approached her with the offer. When she refused the offer, the makers spoke to her parents and got their approval. And her journey in the filmdom began!
As soon as she started working on sets, she eventually loved being in front of the camera. Despite facing failure, Neha continued acting in few other films such as - (2004) Muskaan, (2005) Koi Mere Dil Mein Hai and (2006) Aatma, where played a ghost in the film. However, Neha couldn't taste success.
But in the meanwhile, she did find happiness on the personal front, when she married Manoj Bajpayee and settled to a life of marital bliss. Manoj Bajpayee and Shabana Raza got married in April 2006, after dating for almost eight years - yes Neha reverted to her original name Shabana Raza.
"I was always Shabana Raza. And that's how close family and friends have always known me. Neha was never me, it is too delicate a name to describe me. I'm far stronger," said Shabana in an interview with IANS in 2008.
"I've always been passionate about acting. But I couldn't go role hunting from door-to-door in producers' homes. Maybe that was a drawback in me. After a while, when the right roles stopped coming, I withdrew from acting and was just happy being Mrs. Manoj Bajpayee," Neha said in an interview with IANS in 2008.
Shabana met Manoj Bajpayee right after Kareeb was released. And since then they've been together. Strangely, in Bihar, where her in-laws live, Shabana Raza is still remembered as Neha - the actress who romanced Ajay Devgan on-screen in Hogi Pyar Ki Jeet. "It was a big hit in Bihar. And whenever I visit the state with Manoj people remember me for my movie," she told IANS.
Shabana and Manoj Bajpayee were blessed with a daughter in 2011, whom they named Ava Nayla Bajpayee. Buzz was that the couple was superstitious and had been wanting a baby for long so they preferred to keep the happy news under wraps.
Manoj Bajpayee had come to Mumbai for the delivery and taken a break from the shoot of Aarakshan that was happening in Bhopal. It is also a coincidence that both daughter and father have a common date Manoj was born on April 23 while Ava Nayla Bajpayee's birth date is February 23.
Manoj Bajpayee had once told mid-day about his wife Shabana, "She is a hands-on mother and doing a great job of bringing up our daughter Nyla. I would say she is single-handedly bringing her up because I am busy shooting at most times."
Manoj further added that he wants his wife Shabana to start acting again. "I am trying to get her to take a break from her household activities and take up an acting assignment. She's probably the best-looking women around and intelligent as well. It would be fun doing a film with her. At least this way, we will be able to spend some quality time together," he said.
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