Think positive

She is the actress-social activist who has done a lot for AIDS awareness. He is the stylish filmmaker who is known for his GenX, stylish cinema.

At home, Shabana Azmi and Farhan Akhtar are family. At work, they are an actress and a filmmaker who are both trying to spread awareness on AIDS. Shabana is acting in Positive, a short film being directed by Farhan for Mira Nair’s AIDS Awareness Project.

Both of them have drawn on personal experiences when it comes to the subject of AIDS. “It is a very painful thing, especially when it happens to a loved one. I have gone through the pain of seeing one of my loved ones go through this. But at the same time, I have come across families who are so courageous that it gives you strength to overcome your pain,” says Shabana.

Farhan, on his part, remembers how one of his friends battled the disease. “When Mira approached me, my first response was ‘I have to do this’. AIDS is a very sensitive topic. We all know what it is, how it spreads and what happens next. But still the numbers of people affected by it are increasing everyday. I feel that the more you speak about it, the better. That is why I took up this project,” he says.

Talking about his 12-minute film, Farhan adds, “This was the best way I could voice my worries about this topic. I would love to make more movies on the subject. Also talking helps a lot in making people aware of the topic and its effects.”

Shabana feels that we have come a long way from the times when the topic of AIDS was a taboo in Indian homes. “A lot of money has been spent on awareness and people are aware about the disease. But now, it is time to spend money on treatment and care. Unfortunately I still hear stories of doctors declining to treat an HIV positive patient. That, I feel, is a cardinal sin,” she says. Shabana, in her crusade against the disease, has seen a lot of families go through tough times because their loved ones were HIV positive. “Hats off to all the people who, without worrying about people’s reactions, have come out in open to share their problems and tell people their stories. Talking does help!”

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com