Shabnam

For other uses, see Shabnam (disambiguation).

Jharna Basak (born 17 August 1946),^[3] known by her stage name Shabnam, is a Bangladeshi–Pakistani stage and film actress.^[4] Actor Waheed Murad introduced her to the Pakistani film industry by offering her a lead role in his film Samundar in 1968. Shabnam remained active in Lollywood in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. She has been nominated for Nigar awards several times, winning it 13 times (the most for an actress). She has appeared in over 150 films^[5] films. She was a leading actress in the Pakistani film industry for 28 years.^[6]

Shabnam
শবনম شبنم
Born	Jharna Basak (1946-08-17) 17 August 1946 (age 78) Dacca, Bengal, British India
Nationality	British Indian (1946-1947) Pakistani (1947-1998) Bangladeshi (1998-onwards)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1961–present
Spouse	Robin Ghosh ​ ​ (m. 1964; died 2016)​
Awards	13 Nigar Awards[1] Lux Style Lifetime Achievement Award[1] (2019) Lifetime Achievement Award from Pakistan Television[1] (2012) Sitara-i-Imtiaz from the President of Pakistan[2] (2024)

Shabnam migrated from East to West Pakistan in 1968,^[7] and lived in the country until the late 1990s, later she returned to her native Bangladesh.^[4]

Early life

Shabnam was born on 17 August 1946 in Dhaka, in the erstwhile British India in a Bengali Hindu family.^[7] Her father was Nani Basak, a football referee from Dhaka. As a young girl, she was more adventurous and tomboyish in nature in comparison to her sister, who was into singing.^[8] She would still practice dance moves. She was offered a role in a movie as a supporting dancer, thus beginning her career in arts.^[6]

Career

Shabnam on the film poster of Chanda (1962), directed by Ehtesham

Shabnam began her career when her father got her admitted into the Bulbul Lalitakala Academy. A close friend of her father got her a role in a dance sequence in the movie "Ei Desh Tomar Amar". Her next role was as a dancer in the movie "Rajdhanir Bukey". When the song became a hit, the audience requested that she be cast as a lead actress. That was when she starred in her Bengali debut film as a heroine, Harano Din.^[6]

Shabnam moved to West Pakistan after the director Ehtesham cast her in his Urdu movie Chanda in the erstwhile West Pakistan. Since her Urdu wasn't that proficient at that point in time, the rehearsals were scripted in Bengali. The music of this film was composed by her husband Robin Ghosh. The film turned out to be a hit, starting her career in the top ranks of the Pakistan film industry.

After starring in dozens of super-hit films, Shabnam became the number one reigning actress in Pakistan by the early 1970s. She retained that position until the mid-1980s, when she slowly started to retire. She is considered to probably be the only film actress in the world to have continuously and successfully played the romantic lead in films for almost three decades, from the early 1960s to the late 1980s.^[9]

After the Bangladesh Liberation War had ended, Shabnam wanted to visit her native homeland. It took her two years to get the "No Objection Certificate" which was required for her to get a Bangladeshi visa. It was later revealed that Lollywood had requested the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan to not give her a visa, as they feared she would not return from Bangladesh. Nevertheless, she reassured her fans and colleagues that she would not abandon Pakistan, and would be back after visiting her parents. Only then did the Foreign Ministry let her leave Pakistan, making sure their most popular actress would not leave.^[6] Around 1988, she switched on to character acting and was again doing films in her native Dhaka and Lahore. Since 1987 she made London her place of residence.^[10] Shabnam left Pakistan and its film industry in the late 1990s.^[4] She gracefully retired and moved to Bangladesh in 1997. According to her, she retired because of her age, and her duty to look after her parents, as they were entering their last years. She planned on retiring after her super-hit blockbuster film Aaina. But because of the overwhelming number of fans and offers she had in Pakistan, it took her 20 years to finish her last films, and then enter retirement.^[6]

After returning to Dhaka and taking a break for 2 years, Shabnam lastly performed in movie 'Ammajan,’ directed by Kazi Hayat. She performed in that movie in the central role and it was released in 1999. The film went on to be a super-hit and one of the most successful movies in Bangladeshi film history.

In 2012, Shabnam visited Pakistan along with her husband after 13 years, where they were awarded lifetime achievement award by the Pakistani government.^[1] The award ceremony was organized by PTV. The function was hosted by prominent actress and television presenter Bushra Ansari. The function included live interviews of she and her husband, along with famous singers and co-artists of the duo. Many of Shabnam's and Robin Ghosh's songs were performed on stage by young Pakistani artists. The show was attended by top members of the Pakistani community, most notably the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousaf Raza Gillani.

23 of her Urdu movies celebrated diamond jubilees in Lollywood. Shabnam was the heroine among 12 of those movies. Shabnam won 13 Nigar Awards for best actress, which is a record to date.

In 2017, Shabnam announced that she would be returning to the Pakistani entertainment industry with television series Mohini Mansion Ki Cinderellayain, which is directed by Ali Tahir, and its music is composed by Sahir Ali Bagga.^[11][12] She is also committed to star in Aina 2, a sequel to her 1977 film Aina, which will be directed by Syed Noor.^[13]

Personal life

Shabnam married music composer Robin Ghosh in 1966. Together they had one son; Ronnie Ghosh. Robin Ghosh died on 13 February 2016 in Dhaka, due to respiratory failures.^[14] In an interview, she described him as a loving, caring and very understanding person who never interfered in her film life and never asked questions when she came home late from work.^[4] After retirement from the film industry, she used to take care of her parents and her husband, until their deaths. She now leads a retired life as a housewife, in Dhaka.^[6]

1978 assault

Farooq Bandial, a politician from Punjab's Khushab district and the cousin of Umar Ata Bandial,^[15] along with other four men committed armed dacoity at the residence of Robin Ghosh and Shabnam in Gulberg area of Lahore on 13 May 1978.^[16] A Special Military Court handed Bandial and four other men death sentences for committing armed dacoity. Farooq Bandial's uncle Fateh Khan Bandial was then a secretary in the federal government. He used his influences and the accused were later commuted by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq after Robin Ghosh and Shabnam granted them a pardon, and it was later changed to a life sentence.^[17] Bhandial joined Imran Khan's PTI in 2018, but was expelled the same day after news of his involvement in the dacoity re-surfaced. S.M. Zafar served as the legal counsel for Robin Ghosh and Shabnam in their case. The details of the case were recounted in detail in his book Mere Mashhoor Muqaddamay (My Popular Cases).^[18][15][19]

Filmography

Shabnam worked in a total of 170 films, including 152 Urdu films, 14 Bengali and 4 Punjabi films. Her unreleased films include: Gharonda, Bunjarun and Itna Pyar Kon Karay. Her debut film was a Bengali film. Her first Urdu film, Chanda (1962 film) was filmed in Bangladesh.

Year	Title	Role	Director	Notes	Ref(s)
1959	E Desh Tomar Amar
1961	Rajdhanir Bukey		Ehtesham		[20]
	Harano Din		Mustafiz		[20]
	Kakhono Asheni		Zahir Raihan		[20]
1962	Azaan		Fazal Haq		[21]
	Chanda[22][5]		Ehtesham		[20]
1963	Talash[22][5]		Mustafiz		[21]
	Naach Ghar		Abdul Jabbar Khan		[23]
	Preet Na Jane Reet		M. Chaudhury		[23]
1964	Karwan		S. M. Parvez		[24]
	Paisay		Mustafiz		[24]
1965	Aakhri Station[22]		Suroor Barabankvi		[25]
	Kaise Kahun		S. Khan		[25]
	Kajal[22]	Rita/Chanchal	Nazar-ul-Islam		[26][27]
	Saagar		Ehtesham		[26]
1966	Begana[22]		S. M. Parvez		[28]
	Raja Sanyasi		Khan Ataur Rahman		[29]
1967	Darshan[5]		Rehman		[30]
1968	Jahan Tum Wahan Hum[22]		Pervez Malik		[31]
	Main Zinda Hoon		M. Salim		[32]
	Samandar[22]		Rafiq Rizvi		[33]
	Shareek-e-Hayat[5]		S. M. Yusuf		[32]
	Tum Mere Ho		Suroor Barabankvi		[33]
1969	Aasra		Raza Mir		[34]
	Anari		Mustafiz		[35]
	Andaleeb[22][5]		Farid Ahmed		[35]
	Daagh		Ehtesham		[34]
	Joar Bhata		Attaur Rahman		[36]
	Ladla		A. H. Siddiqui		[35]
	Naz		Sharif Nayyar		[35]
	Nazneen		Khalid Khurshid		[35]
	Qasam Uss Waqt Ki		A. J. Kardar		[36]
1970	Chalo Maan Gayai		Rahman		[37]
	Jale Na Kyun Parwana		Shaukat Hashmi		[37]
	Naseeb Apna Apna[22][5]		Qamar Zaidi		[38]
	Naya Savera		Jamil Akhter		[38]
	Shama Aur Parwana		Hassan Tariq		[38]
1971	Afshan[22]		Javed Hashmi		[39]
	Chiragh Kahan Roshni Kahan		K. Kurshid		[40]
	Dosti[22][5]		Sharif Nayyar		[39]
	Rootha Na Karo		Munawar Rasheed		[40]
1972	Bandagi
	Ehsaas
	Mann Ki Jeet
	Mere Hamsafar
1973	Anmol
	Badal Aur Bijli
	Gharana
	Nya Raasta
	Naam Ke Nawab
	Society
	Zakhmi
	Aas[5]
1974	Aina Aur Soorat
	Bano Rani[5]
	Chahat
	Dhamaka
	Dillagi[22][5]
	Do Badan
	Do Tasviren
	Intezar
	Main Bani Dulhan
	Miss Hippy[22][5]
	Qismat
	Sawan Aya Tum Nahin Aye
	Sharafat[5]
	Aabroo
1975	Anari
	Badal Gaya Insaan
	Be-misal
	Bikhrey Moti
	Dil Nasheen
	Do Saathi
	Jageer
	Farz Aur Mamta
	Milap
	Paisa
	Pehchan[5]	Sara	Pervaiz Malik
	Umang
	Zanjeer
	Zeenat[22][5]
1976	Anokhi
	Daman Ki Aag
	Do Aansoo
	Daag
	Mom Ki Guria
	Raja Jani
	Sachai
	Sayyan Anari
	Talash
	Tallaq
	Aaj Aur Kal
1977	Aina[22]		Nazar-ul-Islam
	Mere Huzoor
	Naya Suraj
	Sangam
	Shama-e-Mohabbat
	Uff Yeh Bivian[5]
1978	Abhi To Mein Jawan Hun
	Achhey Mian
	Ankhon Ankhon Mein
	Anmol Mohabbat
	Awaz[22]
	Intekhab
	Milan
	Saheli
	Aabshar
1979	Chalte Chalte
	Nazr-e-Karam
	Nishani
	Pakeeza
	Naya Andaaz
1980	Azmaish
	Badaltey Mousam
	Bandish[5]		Nazar-ul-Islam
	Hum Dono[22]
	Nahin Abhi Nahin[22]
	Pyari
	Rishta
1981	Faaslay
	Ghaerao
	Kiran Aur Kali
	Qurbani
	Tange Wali
1982	Biwi Ho To Aisi[5]
	I Love You
	Khoobsoorat
	Naseeb
	Saharey
	Zara Si Baat
	Aahat
1983	Deewangi
	Dehleez
	Gumnam
	Kabhi Alwida Na Kehna[5]
	Maang Meri Bhar Do
	Aaj Ki Raat
1984	Aisa Bhi Hota Hai
	Andhi Aur Toofan[22]
	Barood
	Doorian
	Kamyabi[5]
	Lazawal
	Naseebon Wali
	Naam Mera Badnam
	Shadi Magar Adhi
	Tere Ghar Ke Samne
1985	Benazir Qurbani
	Naraz
1986	Faisla
	Jhoomar Chor
	Shadi Mere Shohar Ki
1987	Bazi
	Kaloo
	Love in Nepal
	Malka
	Masti Khan
	Saas Meri Saheli
	Teri Banhon Mein
1988	Sheesh Nagin
1989	Lady Commando[5]
1993	Ranjish
1994	Rani Beti Raj Karegi[5]
1995	Awargi
1996	Saza
1997	Aulad Ki Qasam
1999	Ammajan

References

1. Priyanka Dasgupta (17 February 2018). "Meet Pakistan's biggest star from Bangladesh whom India hasn't celebrated!". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
2. "President Zardari confers civil awards on Pakistanis, foreign nationals". Dawn. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
3. Shazu, Shah Alam (18 August 2022). "I never wanted to live as a star: Shabnam". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
4. "Leaving Pakistan and Lollywood was painful, says Shabnam". Images (Dawn Group of Newspapers). 11 March 2017. Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
5. "Filmography of Shabnam". Pakistan Film Magazine website. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
6. "Meet Pakistan's biggest star from Bangladesh whom India hasn't celebrated!". Times of India Blog. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
7. Dasgupta, Priyanka (17 February 2018). "The biggest star you've never heard of". The Times of India.
8. Raza Zaidi (11 February 2017). "In conversation with Shabnam: Poster girl for Pakistani film in the 70s". Geo News. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
9. "Shabnam biography, complete biography of Actresses Shabnam". pak101.com. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
10. Sonya, Sharmin (20 March 2005). "Shabnam: Sheer magic of the silver screen". The Daily Star.
11. Haq, Irfan Ul (19 October 2017). "Veteran actor Shabnam will play her own superfan in upcoming Pakistani drama". Images. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
12. "Shabnam Returns with Mohini Mansion Ki Cinderella". Daily Pakistan Global. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
13. "Cupid strikes again: sequel to Lollywood classic 'Aina' in the making". The Express Tribune. 19 April 2017.
14. "Music composer Robin Ghosh passes away". The Daily Star. 13 February 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
15. Iqbal, Anwar (17 April 2023). "پارلیمنٹ کو شبنم بنانے کی کوشش". HumSab (in Urdu).
16. "'Bakwas' must stop". The Express Tribune. 16 June 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
17. Chaudhry, Fahad (31 May 2018). "PTI expels Farooq Bandial only hours after welcoming him following outrage on social media". Dawn (newspaper). Archived from the original on 12 June 2018.
18. "'Bakwas' must stop". 16 June 2018.
19. "مشہور فلم سٹار شبنم کا ان کے بیٹے اور خاوند روبن گھوش کو سامنے باندھ کر گینگ ریپ کرنے والی اہم سیاسی شخصیت کی تحریک انصاف میں شمولیت پر تنازعہ کھڑا ہوگیا". Javed Chaudhry (in Urdu). 31 May 2018.
20. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 250. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
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22. "Filmography of Shabnam". Complete Index To World Film (CITWF) website. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
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26. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 254. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
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32. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 261. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
33. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 260. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
34. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 263. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
35. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 264. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
36. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 265. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
37. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 267. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
38. Gazdar, Mushtaq (1997). Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997. Oxford University Press. p. 266. ISBN 0-19-577817-0.
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External links

• Shabnam at IMDb