Bengali cuisine was baba’s favourite: Samrat on Nayak Raj Razzak

Today marks the 81st birthday of legendary actor, director and producer Nayak Raj Razzak. His son Samrat, who is also an actor, spoke to The Daily Star, remembering his father and talking about the late legend's favourite dishes.

"Baba was a pure Bengali by heart. He loved Bengali cuisine a lot, especially small fish. Tengra (a kind of small fish) gravy was one of his favourites. Our mother used to cook this dish on his birthday. He would love to eat this curry with white rice.

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Vegetable khichuri was another dish that he really enjoyed. He always chose white rice over polao. Even one of my children also has this habit. When I see my son growing up with such a habit, I feel that my father is still with me. We used to celebrate baba's birthday together. My father would take us out to dine, or we would spend time together at home. Whenever his birthday comes around, it takes me back to the old days.

Samrat with his father Nayak Raj Razzak.

Many people don't know that baba was crazy for mangoes. He would search shops and find the sweetest ones. During Ramadan, he would never eat seheri without mangoes.

On his birthday, maa would make sweet desserts for baba. However, he would not eat the sweets, instead we would. People who were close to him would visit our house to wish him, and baba really appreciated this gesture.

I miss him every day, but most of all on his birthdays."