Maachis also bagged her first National Film Award for Best Actress.

In the year 1997, Tabu's first release was 'Border' - a movie about the real life happenings surrounding the Battle of Longewala, during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Although her role was not significant, but the movie went on to become one of the biggest hits of 1997. In the same year, she also starred in the critically acclaimed film 'Virasat', which won her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance.

Next year, in 1999, she again starred in two successful films - 'Biwi No.1' and 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'. Both these movies went on to become huge hits. Then, in the year 2000 she starred in 'Hera Pheri' and 'Astitva', out of which the former was a box office success while the latter was critically acclaimed. She also received her third Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance for Astitva.

It was in the year 2001 that her next film 'Chandni Bar' was released. In this movie, she portrayed the role of a bar dancer which won her praises from both the general public as well as the critics. Chandni Bar also gave Tabu her second National Film Award for Best Actress. Apart from working in Bollywood movies, Tabu has also worked in Telugu films as well, out of which a couple, namely - Coolie No.1 and Ninne Pelladatha were huge hits.

The year 2007 saw Tabu starring in her first ever Hollywood movie, 'The Namesake'. Directed by Mira Nair, this film was a huge success overseas. Tabu is best known for her roles in artistic, low budget movies that gain more critical success than box office success. She has always maintained that she works in those movies which move her. It doesn't really matter to her whether the film is a big grosser at the box office or not.

Awards and Recogniftions

National Film Awards
* 1997, National Film Award for Best Actress, Maachis.
* 2002, National Film Award for Best Actress, Chandni Bar.

Filmfare Awards
* 1995, Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, Vijaypath
* 1996, Filmfare Best Actress South, Kadhal Desam
* 1998, Critics Award Best Performance, Virasat
* 2000, Critics Award Best Performance, Hu Tu Tu
* 2001, Critics Award Best Performance, Astitva
* 2007, Critics Award Best Performance, Cheeni Kum

Star Screen Awards
* 2001, Star Screen Award Best Actress, Astitva
* 2007, Star Screen Award Best Actress (Critics), Cheeni Kum

Zee Cine Awards
* 2001, Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female, Astitva
* 2002, Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female, Chandni Bar

International Indian Film Academy Awards
* 2002, IIFA Best Actress Award for Chandni Bar

Bollywood Movie Awards
* 2001, Bollywood Movie Award - Critics Award Female, Astitva


Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards
* 1997, Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards, Best Actress (Hindi Movies), Maachis
* 2002, Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards, Best Actress (Hindi Movies), Chandni Bar