Shabnam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shabnam
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| Born |
Jharna Basak
17 August 1946 |
| Citizenship | Pakistani (until 1999) Bangladeshi |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1961–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Robin Ghosh
(m. 1964; |
| Relatives | Badal Ghosh (brother-in-law) |
| Awards |
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Jharna Basak (born August 17, 1946), better known by her stage name Shabnam, is a famous actress from Bangladesh and Pakistan. She became a big star in the Pakistani film industry, often called Lollywood. The actor Waheed Murad helped start her career in Pakistan by giving her a main role in the 1968 movie Samundar.
Shabnam was a leading actress in Lollywood for many years, especially during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. She has acted in over 150 films and won 13 Nigar Awards, which is more than any other actress. For 28 years, she was one of the most popular stars in Pakistani movies.
In 1968, Shabnam moved from what was then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) to West Pakistan. She lived and worked in Pakistan for many years before returning to Bangladesh in the late 1990s.
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Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Shabnam was born on August 17, 1946, in Dhaka, which was part of British India at the time. Her father, Nani Basak, was a football referee. As a child, Shabnam was adventurous and enjoyed practicing dance.
Her acting journey began when her father enrolled her in a performing arts academy. A friend of her father's offered her a small part as a dancer in the movie "Ei Desh Tomar Amar." She then appeared as a dancer in another film, "Rajdhanir Bukey." The song she danced to became so popular that audiences wanted to see her in a leading role. This led to her first main role in the Bengali film Harano Din.
A Star in Pakistan's Film World
Shabnam's career took a major turn when director Ehtesham cast her in his Urdu-language movie Chanda. This film was made in what was then West Pakistan. Since she was not fluent in Urdu yet, her lines were written for her in Bengali to help her practice. The movie's music was created by her husband, Robin Ghosh. Chanda was a huge success and made Shabnam a top star in the Pakistan film industry.
Becoming a Top Actress
After starring in many hit films, Shabnam became the most popular actress in Pakistan by the early 1970s. She remained at the top for over a decade. She is known for being one of the few actresses in the world to play the main romantic character in movies for nearly 30 years, from the 1960s to the 1980s.
A Career Across Two Countries
After the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Bangladesh became an independent country. Shabnam wanted to visit her family there, but it was difficult to get permission to travel. The film industry in Pakistan was worried that she might not come back.
She promised her fans and coworkers that she would return to Pakistan. After two years, she was finally able to visit her parents in Bangladesh. This showed how important she was to the Pakistani film world.
Later Career and Retirement
Around 1988, Shabnam began taking on different types of roles, known as character acting. She worked in both her hometown of Dhaka and in Lahore, Pakistan. For a time, she also lived in London.
In 1997, Shabnam decided to retire from acting and moved back to Bangladesh. She said she wanted to spend more time with her parents in their later years. Although she had planned to retire after her hit film Aaina, she was so popular that she continued to receive film offers for another 20 years.
After a two-year break, she made a comeback in the 1999 Bangladeshi film Ammajan. She played the main character, and the movie became one of the most successful in Bangladesh's history.
Recent Appearances
In 2012, Shabnam and her husband visited Pakistan after 13 years. They were given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pakistani government in a special ceremony. Many famous Pakistani artists performed her movie songs to honor her.
In 2017, Shabnam returned to acting in the Pakistani television series Mohini Mansion Ki Cinderellayain. She also agreed to star in Aina 2, a sequel to her famous 1977 film Aina.
Personal Life
Shabnam married music composer Robin Ghosh in 1966. They had one son, Ronnie Ghosh. Robin Ghosh passed away in 2016 in Dhaka. Shabnam described him as a very caring and supportive husband who always encouraged her career.
After retiring from movies, she took care of her parents and her husband until they passed away. Today, she lives a quiet, retired life in Dhaka.
A Challenging Time
In 1978, Shabnam and her husband experienced a very difficult event when their home in Lahore was robbed. It was a frightening experience for their family. The people responsible were caught and faced serious consequences. However, Shabnam and her husband chose to forgive them. This event was later described in a book by the lawyer who helped them, S.M. Zafar.
Awards and Recognition
Shabnam's talent has been recognized with many awards.
- She has won 13 Nigar Awards for Best Actress, which is a record.
- In 2012, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Pakistan Television.
- In 2019, she was honored with the Lux Style Lifetime Achievement Award.
- In 2024, she received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, a high civilian honor, from the President of Pakistan.
