Nasima Khan, one of the prominent actresses of the early era of Bangladeshi cinema, has passed away. This actress, who gained recognition in the 1960s through her performances in Bengali and Urdu language films, breathed her last while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Uttara, Dhaka, on Sunday (October 11) around 7:30 PM.
Her death was confirmed by Sony Rahman, organizing secretary of the Film Artistes’ Association and an actor.
Nasima Khan was born on August 6, 1944, in Lalbagh, Old Dhaka. She was among the pioneering artists who established their positions in the nascent stages of Bangladeshi cinema. Throughout her long acting career, she gained widespread recognition from audiences by starring in numerous Bengali and Urdu films.
Nasima Khan’s ancestral home was Ukilbari in Rarhikhal village, Sreenagar Upazila, Munshiganj. Her father was Mohammad Masud Khan. Her grandfather, Khan Bahadur Abdul Jalil, served as a Deputy Magistrate in Dhaka during British India. In the 1940s, her family built a house in Lalbagh and began residing there.
Actor Anis, also known as Khan Ata, played a significant role in the beginning of Nasima Khan’s cinematic journey. Anis lived near Nasima’s family home and had a good relationship with her father. At one point, Anis advised Nasima’s father to allow his daughter to pursue acting. With her father’s consent, Nasima stepped into the world of acting.
She made her big-screen debut in 1959 with A. J. Kardar’s directorial venture ‘Jago Hua Savera’. Nasima Khan was one of the co-actresses in this film, known as Dhaka’s second talking picture. The film also won awards internationally.
In the same year, she got the opportunity to act in the Urdu film ‘Tanha’, directed by Baby Islam. Her co-stars in this movie included Shabnam, Sumita Devi, and Lahore-based actress Shamim Ara.
Nasima Khan made her debut as a lead actress in the 1961 film ‘Je Nodi Moru Pothe’, where she starred opposite Anis. Subsequently, she further solidified her position through continuous performances in various films.
Among Nasima Khan’s notable films are ‘Shurjosnan’, ‘Dharapath’, ‘Kar Bou’, ‘Ujala’, ‘Begana’, ‘Apon Dulal’, ‘Ulzan’, ‘Main Bhi Insaan Hoon’, ‘Dui Bhai’, ‘Gouri’, ‘Amar Bou’, and ‘Dheu Er Pore Dheu’. In these films, she acted alongside prominent actors such as Anwar Hossain, Hasan Imam, Rahman, Mustafa, Azim, and Harun at various times.
Nasima Khan also gained special recognition for her performance in the film ‘Ashbon Gaye Moti’. Her contributions to both Bengali and Urdu cinema are deeply intertwined with the history of Dhaka’s film industry in the 1960s.
After a long career in films, she was later seen more frequently in television dramas. Although her acting medium changed over time, her connection with the art remained unbroken.
Nasima Khan was one of those who established their position in the early stages of Bangladeshi cinema and played a role in paving the way for future generations. Her demise marks the end of an important chapter in the early history of Dhaka’s film industry.