Shabana does Broken Images with fractured foot

The ongoing play"s name could"ve been changed from Broken Images to Broken Leg. On Sunday, Shabana Azmi slipped on the stairs of her home, fractured her leg, and still went on stage the same evening to perform the complex double role in her ongoing play, Broken Images.

But now all further shows of Broken Images in Delhi, Bangalore, and Chandigrah would have to be cancelled.

In considerable pain, Shabana says, “Yes I"ve fractured my left foot and it has nothing to do with my leftist leanings! My foot will remain in a cast for the next six weeks. We just wrote in a sprained ankle for my character on Sunday and I went on stage pumped up with two injections and four painkillers. No one got to know my character"s 'sprained" foot was actually broken. That"s acting, my dear."

Never before having been incapacitated in such a way, Shabana is at her wit"s end. Distressed by her enforced confinement, the czarina of histrionics says, “I feel so helpless. Maybe this is destiny"s way of giving me some rest. Unless forced, I"d never be at home for more than two days. What worries me is all the cancelled shows of Broken Images."

Though the play"s director, Alyque Padamsee, has assured her that there"s no need to fret, Shabana is naturally worried. “This is the first time I"ve ever had to cancel my commitments. And I feel miserable about it. In April I"m supposed to go to London to promote my film for Gurinder Chadha, It"s A Wonderful Afterlife. I hope I"m able to make it."

Shabana and husband Javed Akhtar were also invited to Wharton to deliver lectures. Rues Shabana, “I"ll have to cancel that as well. Ugh!"

Now Shabana has plans of taking care of things around the house for the next six weeks. “My domestic staff is in a state of panic running helter-skelter wondering how they"ll cope with me in the house for six weeks. I wonder how I"ll cope with myself for six weeks!"