Veteran film actor and choreographer Ilias Javed, one of the most celebrated figures of Bengali cinema’s golden era, died at his Uttara residence in Dhaka on Wednesday at 11:15 am after a long battle with cancer. He was 82. His death has cast a pall of grief over the country’s film industry.
Top Dhallywood star Shakib Khan expressed his condolences in a social media post, writing, “With his passing, we have lost not just an artist, but a guardian-like figure.”
He added, “Although Javed Bhai is no longer with us, he has left behind countless memories and contributions on screen and within the industry. These will keep him alive for generations.”
Javed’s first funeral prayers were held at the Sector 12 graveyard mosque in Uttara on Wednesday. After Asr, a second funeral was held at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), following which he was laid to rest at the Uttara Sector 12 graveyard.
Actor Omar Sunny, who paid his respects at the BFDC, described Javed as “the star of our stars”.
“If we are called stars, then Ilias Javed was the star of stars,” he said, expressing regret that the industry icon did not receive a lifetime achievement award during his lifetime. “That failure is ours,” he added.
Recalling their personal relationship, Sunny said he had worked under Javed as a choreographer on several films. “One day, when I called him brother, he told me, ‘You will call me father.’ From that day on, our bond became that of father and son,” he said.
Sunny also paid tribute to Javed’s wife, actress Dolly Chowdhury, noting her devotion during his long illness. “Javed Sahib had been unwell for the past 18 years. Throughout that time, Aunty cared for him like a child,” he said.
Renowned actor and producer Sohel Rana also expressed deep sorrow at the death of his long-time friend. “Javed was very close to me. He choreographed many of my films and even acted in one,” he said.
“Although he was born in Pakistan, he loved this country deeply and chose to remain in Bangladesh after independence,” he added.
Born Raja Mohammad Ilyas, Javed made his screen debut in 1964 with the Urdu film Noi Zindagi. He rose to prominence with Payal in 1966 and went on to become one of the most popular ‘dancing heroes’ of the 1970s and 1980s.
Over a career spanning decades, he acted in more than 200 films and left a lasting legacy as an influential choreographer in Bengali cinema.
