In tearful memories

Eminent film actress Sharmili Ahmed had worked very closely with Nayak Raj Razzak in many a film, where she not only played the female lead opposite Nayak Raj, but also his mother. The day Nayak Raj passed away, Sharmili was in Savar, shooting for drama-serial “Tumi Achho Tai”. Upon hearing the news, she sat stunned in the make-up room, unable to come to terms with the fact that she just lost one of her dearest friends. The actress spoke to The Daily Star recently and shared her memories and stories about the wonderful relationship they shared off-screen.

“I did a lot of work with him. I believe he is the greatest actor to have ever graced the nation. He has taught the next generation of actors what it is to be a sincere artiste, and how to love your art. He worked with so much dedication, always on time, always motivated to do better.”

Sharmili remembered the struggle that Razzak had to go through to become the star that he was. “He travelled all the way from Kolkata to build a career in acting. 'Ami nayok hobo (I will be an actor)' was all he said. He came to Dhaka, lived in a small tin-shed house in Tejkunipara with his wife and first child. He tried to earn just about enough to at least buy milk for his baby. Razzak did everything he could; he was an assistant director, he gave passing shots, he worked so hard that his life became exemplary to newcomers. I don't think I know of anyone who can work this hard for their career anymore -- but Razzak did show them the path.”

Razzak shared many memories with not only Sharmili, but her whole family. “When I was living with my husband outside Dhaka for his work, Razzak would often drop by and we would spend hours just talking. That is when I learned about his struggle. One of my favourite memories of him is when I had met him at a doctor's appointment. His son, Shamrat, and daughter-in-law, had accompanied him. We used to see the same cardiologist at United Hospital. We chatted for a while and then at one point he walked to the doctor's room, turned the door knob with his left hand to open the door, and he looked like such an actor doing it! He said to the doctor, 'This woman sitting here, she has been my wife, my girlfriend, my mother, how can you make her wait for so long? I cannot accept this!' He then gestured towards me and said, 'Come on, madam'. The doctor, everyone waiting outside, and I began laughing. That was Razzak in his entirety -- the perfect charmer. Another memory that I love was when he had won the Shadhinota Padak, and Diti, Aruna Biswas, Babita and I had gone to his house with flowers to congratulate him. He was so happy, and so was his wife, Lokkhi bhabi, whom he later gave the flowers to.”

 “I feel like there are two families for every artiste -- one at home, one at the industry. So naturally, when Razzak passed away, we all felt like we lost our own brother. He was an exceptional human being -- humble, charming, and intelligent; a hero in every sense of the word. He really did show the whole country that artistes can achieve anything if they work hard enough.”