My biggest achievement is that people still remember me as ‘Ammajan’: Shabnam
Shabnam, a renowned actress of the 60's, has been a part of both Bangladeshi and Pakistani films. She rose to fame with the Urdu film, "Chanda", after which she never had to look back. Her last venture was the hit Bangladeshi movie, "Ammajan".
The artiste, who got stuck in Pakistan due to Covid-19 restrictions, returned to Dhaka on September 26.
In a candid interview with The Daily Star, the "Ammajan" actress spoke about her time in Pakistan, and why she has been away from the limelight.
How does it feel to return to Bangladesh after staying in Pakistan for such a long time?
It feels wonderful to be back in Bangladesh. As I was away from my home for a long time, I am redecorating my rooms right now.
You stayed at one of your fan's house in Pakistan. How was that experience?
Words cannot express how grateful I am to my Pakistani fan, Saziya. The amount of respect she showered me with is unforgettable. She is no longer just a fan to me; she is my sister.
While you were stuck in Pakistan, did you take part in any film there?
I couldn't shoot for films due to strict Covid-19 restrictions. A lot of celebrities passed away due to Covid-19 too. I spent most of my time inside the house.
People in Pakistan are truly wonderful and highly hospitable. I went to a doctor and he did not let me pay the visiting fee as he was a fan of my movies. He told me that he grew up watching my movies and that he truly loves my performances. Wherever I went, people stood up to show their respect for me.
You debuted into the Bangladeshi film industry with the 1958 movie "Harano Din". You have been working in films for more than 50 years. Are you updated with the latest happenings of the industry?
As I don't go outside much, I don't really keep any information about what is going on in the film industry. Whatever I get to know is through newspapers. All that I can say is that instead of creating a flourishing future, we are only spiralling downwards.
We should not follow other people, or try to imitate their styles in our movies. We should try to make original movies, which truly represent our culture.
Do you still have connections with anyone from the Bangladeshi film industry?
Almost all my co-stars have passed away. I was close with Kabori. Her sudden death truly saddened me. Nasima Khan and I speak over the phone every now and then. Gazi Mazharul Anwar once invited me over to his house, where I met Moushumi, Omar Sani and Poppy. We had a wonderful time. Moushumi is a spectacular artiste.
"Ammajan" was your last movie. Why have you been away from films since then?
I didn't get any good scripts after that, so I stopped working in showbiz. When Kazi Hayat came to me with the script of "Ammajan", I immediately said yes to the movie as I thought the story was truly great. The movie was a super hit. My biggest achievement is that people still remember me as "Ammajan".
I got a lot of offers after "Ammajan" but as I couldn't relate with the scripts, I politely declined the offers.
How are you spending your time these days?
I am currently staying at my house, listening to music. Robin Ghosh was my partner for 50 years but he passed away in 2016. Whenever I miss him, I listen to his music and revisit our fond memories.
Translated by Rakshanda Rahman Misha
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