Shabnam


Jharna Basak, better known by the stage name Shabnam, is a Bangladeshi–Pakistani stage and film actress. Actor Waheed Murad introduced her to the Pakistani film industry by offering her a lead role in his film Samundar in 1968. Jharna remained active in Lollywood in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. She has been nominated for Nigar awards several times, winning it 13 times. She has appeared in over 180 films. She was a leading actress in the Pakistani film industry for 28 years.
Jharna migrated from East to West Pakistan in 1968, and lived in the country until the late 1990s, later she returned to her native Bangladesh.

Early life

Jharna was born on 17 August 1942 in Dhaka, in the erstwhile British India in a Bengali Hindu family. 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. She would still practice dance moves. Jharna was offered a role in a movie as a supporting dancer, thus beginning her career in arts.

Career

Jharna 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 Jharna be cast as a lead actress. That was when she starred in her Bengali debut film as a heroine, Harano Din.
Jharna moved to West Pakistan after the director Ehtesham cast her in his Urdu movie Chanda in the erstwhile West Pakistan. Since Jharna's 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, Jharna 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.
After the Bangladesh Liberation War had ended, Jharna 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, Jharna 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.
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. Shabnam left Pakistan and its film industry in the late 1990s. 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. Jharna 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 10 years to finish her last films, and then enter retirement.
After returning to Dhaka and taking a break for 2 years, Jharna 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, Jharna visited Pakistan along with her husband after 13 years, where they were awarded lifetime achievement award by the Pakistani government. 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 Jharna and her husband, along with famous singers and co-artists of the duo. Many of Jharna'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 till date.
In 2017, Jharna 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. She is also committed to star in Aina 2, a sequel to her 1977 film Aina, which will be directed by Syed Noor.

Personal life

Jharna 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. In an interview, she described him as loving, caring and very understanding and never interfered in her film life, and never asked questions when she came home late from work. After retirement from the film industry, she used take care of her parents and her husband, until their deaths. She now leads a retired life as a housewife, in Dhaka.

1979 assault

Farooq Bandial along with other four men committed armed dacoity at the house of Shabnam in Gulberg area of Lahore in 1979. A Special Military Court handed Bandial and four other men death sentences for committing armed dacoity. The accused were later commuted by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq after Robin Ghosh and Jharna granted them a pardon, and it was later changed to a life sentence. Bhandial joined Imran Khan's PTI in 2018, but was expelled the same day after news of his involvement in the dacoity re-surfaced.

Filmography

Jharna worked in total 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 was filmed in Bangladesh.
YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
1961Rajdhani BukeyEhtesham
1961Harano DinMustafiz
1961Kakhono AshniZahir Raihan
1962AzaanFazal Haq
1962ChandaEhtesham
1963TalashMustafiz
1963Naach CharAbdul Jabbar Khan
1963Preet Na Jane ReetM. Chaudhury
1964KarwanS. M. Parvez
1964PaisayMustafiz
1965Aakhri StationSuroor Barabankvi
1965Kaise KahunS. Khan
1965KajalNazrul Islam
1965SaagarEhtesham
1966BeganaS. M. Parvez
1967DarshanRehman
1968Jahan Tum Wahan HumPervez Malik
1968Main Zinda HoonM. Salim
1968SamandarRafiq Rizvi
1968Shareek-e-HayatS. M. Yusuf
1968Tum Mere HoSuroor Barabankvi
1969AasraRaza Mir
1969AnariMustafiz
1969AndaleebFarid Ahmed
1969DaaghEhtesham
1969Joar BhataAttaur Rahman
1969LadlaA. H. Siddiqui
1969NazSharif Nayyar
1969NazneenKhalid Khurshid
1969Qasam Uss Waqt KiA. J. Kardar
1970Chalo Maan GayaiRahman
1970Jale Na Kyun ParwanaShaukat Hashmi
1970Naseeb Apna ApnaQamar Zaidi
1970Naya SaveraJamil Akhter
1970Shama Aur ParwanaHassan Tariq
1971AfshanJaved Hashmi
1971Chiragh Kahan Roshni KahanK. Kurshid
1971DostiSharif Nayyar
1971Rootha Na KaroMunawar Rasheed
1972Bandagi
1972Ehsas
1972Mann Ki Jeet
1972Mere Hamsafar
1973Anmol
1973Badal Aur Bijli
1973Gharana
1973Nya Raasta
1973Naam Ke Nawab
1973Society
1973Zakhmi
1973Aas
1974Aina Aur Soorat
1974Bano Rani
1974Chahat
1974Dhamaka
1974Dillagi
1974Do Badan
1974Do Tasviren
1974Intezar
1974Main Bani Dulhan
1974Miss Hippy
1974Qismat
1974Sawan Aya Tum Nahin Aye
1974Sharafat
1974Aabroo
1975Anari
1975Badal Gaya Insaan
1975Be-misal
1975Bikhrey Moti
1975Dil Nasheen
1975Do Saathi
1975Jageer
1975Farz Aur Mamta
1975Milap
1975Paisa
1975Pehchan
1975Umang
1975Zanjeer
1975Zeenat
1976Anokhi
1976Daman Ki Aag
1976Do Aansoo
1976Daag
1976Mom Ki Guria
1976Raja Jani
1976Sachai
1976Sayyan Anari
1976Talash
1976Tallaq
1976Aaj Aur Kall
1977Aina
1977Mere Huzoor
1977Naya Sooraj
1977Sangam
1977Shama-e-Mohabbat
1977Uff Yeh Bivian
1978Abhi To Mein Jawan Hun
1978Achhey Mian
1978Ankhon Ankhon Mein
1978Anmol Mohabbat
1978Awaz
1978Intekhab
1978Milan
1978Saheli
1978Aabshar
1979Chalte chalte
1979Nazr-e-Karam
1979Nishani
1979Pakeeza
1979Naya Andaaz
1980Azmaish
1980Badaltey Mousam
1980Bandish
1980Hum Dono
1980Nahin Abhi Nahin
1980Pyari
1980Rishta
1981Faaslay
1981Ghaerao
1981Kiran Aur Kali
1981Qurbani
1981Tange Wali
1982Biwi Ho To Aisi
1982I Love You
1982Khoobsoorat
1982Naseeb
1982Saharey
1982Zara Si Baat
1982Aahat
1983Deewangi
1983Dehleez
1983Gumnam
1983Kabhi Alwida Na Kehna
1983Maang Meri Bhar Do
1983Aaj Ki Raat
1984Aisa Bhi Hota Hai
1984Andhi Aur Toofan
1984Barood
1984Doorian
1984Kamyabi
1984Lazawal
1984Naseebon Wali
1984Naam Mera Badnam
1984Shadi Magar Adhi
1984Tere Ghar Ke Samne
1985Benazir Qurbani
1985Naraz
1986Faisla
1986Jhoomar Chor
1986Shadi Mere Shohar Ki
1987Bazi
1987Kaloo
1987Love in Nepal
1987Malka
1987Masti Khan
1987Saas Meri Saheli
1987Teri Banhon Mein
1988Sheesh Nagin
1989Lady Commando
1993Ranjish
1994Rani Beti Raj Karegi
1995Awargi
1996Saza
1997Aulad Ki Qasam
1999Ammajan