Today, we celebrate the birthday of a legendary actress,Babita, whose unforgettable performance as ‘Ananga Bou’ in Satyajit Ray’s ‘Ashani Sanket’ is still etched in our memory.
Born in 1953, Babita’s path into the film was guided by family, especially her elder sister, the celebrated actress Suchanda. Her big screen journey began very early, playing a child artist in Zahir Raihan’s unreleased film‘Shongshar’ (1968).She first appeared under the name ‘Suborna,’ but it was Afzal Chowdhury and his wife who suggested the name ‘Babita’ while she was working on ‘Jaltey Suraj Ke Nichey’, a name that would soon become iconic.
Babita’s first role as a heroine came in ‘Sesh Porjonto’, which was released on August 14, 1969, the same day she tragically lost her mother. She received a remuneration of Tk 12,000 for the film, which she used to buy a Toyota car.
Her breakthrough came with Zahir Raihan’s ‘Taka Ana Pai’, followed by a major success in Nazrul Islam’s ‘Shorolipi’, which solidified her place as a rising star. Later, she quickly became a leading actress of her time, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with icons like Shabana and Kabori.
When the National Film Awards were introduced in the mid-1970s, Babita stood tall among her peers, winning Best Actress three years in a row, a rare and enduring feat for her roles in ‘Bandi Theke Begum’, ‘Noyonmoni’ and ‘Bashundhara’. Later, she won the Best Actress award one more time for ‘Ramer Sumati’.
The evergreen actress also received national awards for producing ‘Poka Makorer Ghor Bosoti’ and for the bestsupporting actress roles in ‘Hason Raja’ and ‘Ke Apon Ke Por’. In 2016, she was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, bringing her total to eight National Film Awards.
Babita’s achievements extend beyond Bangladesh. ‘Ashani Sanket’ won the prestigious Golden Bearaward at the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival in 1973, adding to her international recognition.
Raised in Jessore, Babita moved to Dhaka because of her sister Suchanda’s acting career. Her formal education was cut short, but through dedication and personal effort, she educated herself and became fluent in multiple languages.
Acting is in Babita’s blood. Her elder sister Suchandaand younger sister Champa have also left lasting marks on Bangladeshi cinema. The family tree extends to celebrated names like Zahir Raihan, Moushumi, Omar Sani and Riaz- a dynasty of film stars. Although her father, Nizamuddin Ayub was a government officer, and her mother, Jahan Ara Begum was a doctor.
In the past, Babita was romantically linked to actor Zafar Iqbal, though the bond never culminated in marriage. She later married filmmaker Iftekharul Alam, with whom she has a son, Anik, now residing in Canada. Babita now spends most of the time with him.
As we celebrate Babita’s birthday, we also honour a remarkable cinematic legacy that transcends generations. Her acting is a testament to talent, resilience and timeless grace.