I gifted Suchitra Sen a saree, which she really liked: Ferdous

Often called the Greta Garbo of Bengal, Suchitra Sen is incomparable to anyone but herself. Her sweet features and impeccable style have left an imprint on every Bengali's heart; and will continue to do so for generations to come. Be it old or new, she still holds admirers across borders and nations.

January 17 marks the legendary actress's death anniversary. To continue to remember the actress fondly, The Daily Star sat down with noted actor Ferdous, to reminisce and recall his memories regarding Suchitra Sen.

It is hard to fill the space of such a remarkable loss. From Pabna to West Bengal, Suchitra Sen is prevalent in the hearts of all cinephiles. Her notable films like "Sagarika", "Harano Sur" still reign supreme in the list of Bengali films. That's what makes her legacy so rich.

Her daughter Munmun Sen is a great friend of mine, whom I met while filming in Kolkata. I've had the privilege of visiting her house many times in the past.

It was during one such occasion that I ran into the legend herself. One day, I had gone to visit Munmun and knocked on her doors. It was answered by Suchitra Sen, whom I could not recognise at the time. She did not wait a moment after opening the doors, she immediately retreated to her own quarters. When it dawned on me who opened the door, the feeling is indescribable. I spent countless moments after that incident, standing outside her door, just to hear her voice. Alas, she never came in front of me again.

Even if I couldn't catch a glimpse of her again, Suchitra Sen did get to know about me from her daughter. Munmun would tell her stories about me, which caught her intrigue, describing me as an artist who is from the other side of the border. She was interested in Bangladeshi films and music. Thus, I sent her CDs of Sadi Mohammad and other Bangladeshi songs. I also gifted her a saree, which I later learnt that she really liked.

I came to know of her passing when I was in India for a shoot. That made me immensely sad and whenever that date rolls around, it still continues to do so.