Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar star in Tanishq’s natural diamond love story

Tanishq, the jewellery retail brand from the house of Tata, has unveiled its latest television commercial, as part of its ongoing efforts to celebrate the enduring value of natural diamonds. Conceptualised by Kommune, the film spotlights the Soulmate Diamond Pair and is one of a series of films that reinforce the meaning, authenticity, and emotional significance of natural diamonds.

Rooted in the real-life bond of Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, the film brings alive an intimate, thoughtful conversation between two people who are deeply connected yet wonderfully different. At its core, the narrative draws a quiet parallel between enduring human relationships and natural diamonds, positioning them as a symbol of love that lasts beyond time.

Marking their first on-screen collaboration, the film captures an affectionate, easy exchange between Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, where familiarity, compatibility, and contrast coexist effortlessly. They reflect on how people assumed their marriage was arranged due to similar backgrounds, with both fathers being poets, and how their worlds naturally aligned. The conversation reveals shared sensibilities, matching thoughts, tastes, and an instinctive understanding, balanced with playful banter about differences—Shabana’s meticulousness versus Javed’s free-spirited ways.

The film culminates in a quiet, powerful moment where they reveal what binds them beyond time: the Soulmate Diamond Pair, crafted from a single billion-year-old natural diamond, underscoring how natural diamonds are rare, irreplaceable, and uniquely suited to symbolise soulmate relationships, a truth made deeply credible through the emotional weight and authenticity of this iconic couple.

Speaking on the launch of the film, Pelki Tshering, Chief Marketing Officer, Tanishq, shared, “For certain moments, relationships and milestones, only a natural diamond will do. Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar represent this beautifully through a bond that is truly unique and has grown richer with individuality and time. We are delighted to have them share their story together on screen for the first time with us. A natural diamond is not just a jewel; it is an emotion.

What makes this even more meaningful today is the confidence we offer our customers. Through advanced technology and tools at our Diamond Expertise Centres, available across our stores, customers can transparently verify that their diamond is natural and experience its light performance—giving them complete assurance in choosing Tanishq diamonds”

Talking about the film, Roshan Abbas, Managing Director, Kommune/RAP, said, “Getting Javed sahib and Shabana ji to collaborate with Tanishq was truly a dream come true. From day one, there was genuine enthusiasm across the teams, and it carried through every stage of the process. Their quiet authenticity and infectious charm brings  a rare depth to the film. Tanishq has consistently raised the bar with purpose-led storytelling, and this is a landmark project we’re proud to have partnere