Award-winning Bangladeshi actor Anjana dies

She won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in “Parineeta”

Anjana Rahman, described in film promotions as the dazzling dancer who was a household name in the 1970s and 1980s, has died.

The popular Dhaka film actor took her last breath in the wee hours of Saturday while undergoing treatment at Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, or BSMMU, hospital.

Anjana began her career in the late 1960s and won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her stellar performance in “Parineeta”.

She had been placed on ventilator support since Wednesday night.

Doctors declared her dead at 1:20am, said Sony Rahman, a member of the Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association, and actor himself.

Her son Nishat Rahman said she was admitted to a private hospital in Dhaka after falling severely ill with a fever.

Upon detecting a blood infection, she was placed in the Intensive Care Unit, or ICU.

After a slight improvement, the veteran filmstar was moved to the Coronary Care Unit, or CCU.

After nine days of treatment there, her condition worsened, and she was admitted to BSMMU on Wednesday night.

The actress faced several complications, including the spread of the blood infection, fluid in her lungs, increased creatinine levels, and a stroke.

Anjana was born in Dhaka. Her passion for dance led her parents to send her to India at an early age to train under Ustad Baburaj Hiralal, where she learned Kathak.

Before entering the film industry, Anjana had already gained recognition as a dancer.

She made her film debut in 1976 with “Shetu”, directed by Babul Chowdhury, though her first released film was Doshyu Bonhur, directed by Shamsuddin Togor.

Over her four-decade career, Anjana acted in over 100 films.

After 1992, she reduced her screen appearances, and her last film, "Bhul", was released in 2008.

However, even though Anjana was less active on-screen, she continued to be involved in the film industry through her production company, "Anjana Films”, which produced several films.

She regularly attended events in the film industry and was elected as a member of the Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association in the latest election.

Actor Misha Sawdagar, the association’s president, said Anjana's funeral prayers will take place at the Film Development Corporation, or FDC after Zuhr prayers on Saturday.

She will be laid to rest at either the Banani graveyard or Jurain.