Rozina's years as a leading lady

Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed

Rozina is a name that echoes through the golden years of Bangladeshi cinema, as the veteran actor has appeared in over 300 films. Her dazzling beauty and commanding on-screen presence has earned countless hearts, as well as two National Film Awards. In a recent interview with The Daily Star, the artiste looks back on those memorable years.

“My first starring role was in 1977, where I appeared in Rajmahal alongside Wasim,” says Rozina. “Wasim, at that time was one of the biggest stars in our country, which was a tremendous deal for a newcomer like me.” In 1978, Rozina's life changed forever after the film's success.

Wasim and Rozina went on to appear in many hit ventures later. The actor had many stories to share regarding their days filming together: “I remember we shot Bini Shutar Mala in Kuakata, and we had all grown so close, that all of us wept when it was time to go home.” The emotion was evident in Rozina's face. “For that film, I sometimes had to be in make up by four in the morning, so we can have some filming done before dawn broke. It was all worth it, because the film reached unprecedented heights of success upon its release.”

Rozina's first film with Nayak Raj Razzak was Ayna. On the first day of shooting, the actor became increasingly nervous as the filming approached. The cast's call time was at seven in the morning at FDC and Rozina had reached the venue early. “Razzak arrived a few moments later, and we readied ourselves for the scene. But when it was time for me to deliver my lines, I couldn't utter a single word because I was siezed with anxiety and shaking uncontrollably,” laughs Rozina. The actor fondly recalls how Razzak had dropped everything to help her through the nervousness. “He understood immediately, and ordered the crew to stop filming. After that he sat down with me and explained that he was also once new to this like me. I was at ease right after that, and filmed the scenes without a hitch. I will never forget that moment,” says Rozina.

There was a time when Rozina's name dominated the film industry, and headlined most new film releases, but the career was not without turbulence. “After a while, I began to do lower budget arthouse films, and many deemed that it meant my career was over,” explains the veteran. However, when she started the film Koshai by Amzad Hossain, these opinions were silenced, and she went on to earn a National Film Award for Best Actress.

 “One of the most memorable times in my life was when I paired up with the famous Mithun Chakravarty from India in the film Onnyai Obichaar,” says a proud Rozina. “This venture exposed my work to the rest of the world, and marked an important milestone in my career. These are the memories I live with now, reminding me what a full life I've had the fortune to lead.”