"Shabnam: The Reigning Queen of Urdu Cinema and Her Journey from Dhaka to Karachi"

 

Shabnam, originally named Jharna Basak, was Pakistan's most successful heroine in Urdu cinema, holding the record for the most super hit Urdu films. She starred in the longest-running Urdu film “Aina” (1977), which played in Karachi. Shabnam's film career began in Dhaka, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), with a Bengali film.

 She made her Urdu film debut with “Chanda” in 1962 and entered West Pakistani cinema with “Samundar” in 1968. Her first major hit came with “Andaleeb” in 1969, and she became a top heroine in 1971 with the film “Dosti”. In the later years of her career, Shabnam appeared in three Punjabi films, but they were not successful. She eventually left Pakistan and returned to Bangladesh, her homeland. Shabnam, a Hindu Bengali by birth, converted to Christianity after marrying renowned musician Robin Ghosh.

Real Name: Jharna Basak

First Film: Chanda (Urdu, 1962)

Active Career: 1961-1997

Date of Birth: August 17, 1946

Birthplace: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Language: Bengali

Profession: Actress 

Relations: Married to Robin Ghosh