Shabnam reminisces about her trip

The actor who is back in Bangladesh talks about her recent visit to Pakistan.

KARACHI:

One of Pakistan’s greatest film actors of all time Shabnam recently returned to Bangladesh after her brief visit to Pakistan. The Express Tribune spoke to the talented actor about her recent trip, her on-screen chemistry with actor Nadeem and her life in Bangladesh.

How was your very recent trip to Pakistan?

It was very nice. I received an overwhelming response from the general public. I had never thought that I would get such an excellent response from both the older generations as well as the new ones. It came as a shock.

You garnered a lot of appreciation and love from the general public for your work in Aina, how was that experience?

My experience with Aina couldn’t have been any better. I remember Shamsi sahib, who was the producer of the film, telling the team and the director Nazrul Islam sahib that he wanted a good film from the get-go. So everyone from the music composer Robin Ghosh, to us actors, worked very hard throughout the film. For several years, the film was screened in various cinema houses across Pakistan. Its popularity was such that even foreign film-makers watched it and said that this is how a film should be made. The reason for its popularity was that it was a family film with great production value.

Tell us about the sizzling on-screen chemistry between you and Nadeem. How did this happen?

I think the public created our chemistry. We never used to ask film-makers to put us together in a film, but there was such great public demand to see us as a pair in films that they would cast us together.

Tell us a little about your married life with Robin Ghosh? How many children do you have?

I have never been secretive about my life; I’m an open book. For the past 40 to 45 years, Robin and I have been together and we have a son, Ronny, who lives in Spain.

Is life in Bangladesh any different from the life you lived in Pakistan?

Life in Bangladesh is very different. I’d say it’s normal and average without too much of the celebrity status attached to it. Here, I am a dutiful wife with familial responsibilities but in Pakistan my life is that of a superstar. But nothing has ever brought a change in my personal attitude, it has been the same, be it Pakistan or Bangladesh.

You had suffered from some serious ailments a few years back? Have you fully recovered?

Yes, I had a stroke in 1995. However, by the grace of God, I have recovered. The doctors told me after my stroke that I should exercise more. So I have been taking care of myself and following the doctor’s advice. I still have arthritis though but I do hope I recover from that as well.

Any message for your fans here in Pakistan?

The love that I have received from my fans is more than I ever expected. I would just like to tell them to always remember me in their prayers. I hope I can come to Pakistan and meet them once again.

A slideshow of pictures from her trip can be viewed here. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2012.