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Jharna on the film poster of Chanda (1962). Author is unkwown.

Top 10 Best Facts about Shabnam

Shabnam is a Bangladeshi-Pakistani film and stage actress whose real name is Jharna Basak. Shabnam is her stage name and she was born on 17^th August 1942 in Dhaka, Bengal Presidency, British India.

Shabnam鈥檚 father was known as Nani Basak and he was a very popular football referee from Dhaka. She was committed to attending the dance routine though she was more daring and tomboyish as a youngster compared to her sister who specialized in songs.

She first starred as a dancer in a film background where she began her professional career.

She was introduced to acting by Waheed Murad in 1968 who offered her a role in the film Samundar. She remained active in the Pakistani film industry in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

She has been nominated several times for the Nigar awards and she won the awards about 13 times which is the highest number for an actress.

Below are the top ten best facts about Shabnam

1. Shabnam had a Humble Beginning in her Career

Bulbul Academy for Fine Arts. Photo by Biplob4.

Her career began when her father, Nani Basak got her admitted to Bulbul Lalitakala Academy. Afterward, she was given a connection by her father鈥檚 close friend who got her a role in a dance in the movie 鈥淓i Desh Tomar Amar鈥�.

Later on, she was given her next role as a dancer in the famous movie 鈥淩ajdhanir Bukey鈥�.

The song from the movie hit so greatly.  The audience proposed that she should be cast as a lead actress. This was the period when she featured in her debut film, Harano Din as a heroine.

2. She was Married to a Prominent Music Composer

Shabnam was married to a very prominent music composer, Robin Ghosh in 1966. The beautiful couple had one son but unfortunately, Robin Ghosh passed on due to respiratory failure on 13^th February 2016, in Dhaka.

Shabnam described her husband as a loving and caring person who never interfered with her film life nor asked her any questions whenever she got home late.

After her retirement, she went on to take good care of her parents as well as a loving husband until the day he passed on.

3. She was Cast in 鈥淯rdu movie Chanda鈥� by her Director

Jharna on the film poster of Chanda (1962). Author is unkwown.

Shabnam was cast in her director鈥檚 film 鈥淯rdu movie Chanda鈥� which was in erstwhile West Pakistan forcing her to relocate. Since Shabnam was not very popular at that time, the scripts were rehearsed in Bengali.

The spectacular music of the film was composed by her husband, Robin Ghosh. The film won the hearts of several people turning out to be a major hit that ranked her top in the Pakistan film industry.

4. She Reigned as the Number One Actress in Pakistan in the Early 1970s

Shabnam featured in several films that became a super-hit which made her the number one reigning actress in the early 1970s. She maintained that position for several years until the period in the mid-1980s when she slowly began to retire.

She is also considered to be probably the only woman to successfully play a romantic lead continuously for about three decades. Her romantic lead role began from the early 1960s to the late 1980s with her films gaining a super-hit.

5. Lollywood requested the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan not to Give her a Visa

Bangladeshi E-Passport . Photo by Dr. Editorial.

After the end of the Bangladesh Liberation War, Shabnam wanted to go back to her homeland. It took her about two years to obtain the documentation required for her to obtain the Bangladeshi visa.

It was however later discovered that Lollywood had requested the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan not to issue her with a visa. This was due to the fear that she would not return from Bangladesh.

However, Shabnam assured her fans and colleagues that she would be back after visiting her parents.

6. Shabnam Retired Gracefully and Moved to Bangladesh

Shabnam switched on to character acting and began doing her films in her native Dhaka in 1988. She also made London her residence place in 1987 and in the 1990s she departed from Pakistan and its film industry.

After Shabnam left Pakistan, she retired gracefully and moved back to her native land, Bangladesh in 1997. She thereafter resumed her duty to take care of her parents who were becoming of age as well as her husband.

7. Shabnam Starred in the Spectacular Movie 鈥淎mmajan鈥�

Roll of photographic film. Photo by Marianna Amill.

Shabnam featured in the amazing movie just two years after she had retired. The spectacular movie 鈥淎mmajan鈥� was directed by Kazi Hayat in1999 where she played the central role.

The movie won the heart of several people and became a super-hit as well as one of the most successful movies in the entire Bangladesh history.

8. She was Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pakistani Government

Lifetime achievement award. photo by Pathless1.

Shabnam visit Pakistan in 2012 which was about 13 years later together with her husband, Robin Ghosh. She was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Pakistani government during an event organized by Pakistan Television Corporation.

The award ceremony was hosted by Bushra Ansari, who was a popular actress and a television presenter. The purpose of the function was to interview Shabnam as well as her husband.

9. Shabnam Won Several Nigar Awards for Best Actress

There were about 23 Shabnam Urdu movies that celebrated diamond jubilees in Lollywood and she was the heroine in 12 of the movies.

She also won about 13 Nigar Awards in the category of the best actress which is a record to date. Later in 2017, she announced her return to the Pakistani entertainment industry.

10. She has Featured in Several Films

Shabnam has starred in several works in a total of 170 films which include 4 Punjabi films, and 14 Bengali and 152 Urdu films. She also has some films that are yet to be released.

Some of the films she featured in include; Rajdhanir Bukey, Harano Din, and Kakhono Ashni which were released in 1961. Anokhi, Daag, Mom Ki Guria, and Daman Ki Aag released in 1976 among other films.

Shabnam has been very successful in her acting career which has seen her win several awards as the best actress.

She also won the heart of the Pakistani people who did not want her to leave the nation. She has also featured in very many films since 1961 working in about 170 films.