I still regret losing him: Ferdousi Mazumder on Humayun Faridee

Even years after his passing, Humayun Faridee remains one of the most cherished names in Bangladesh’s cultural landscape. 

On the celebrated artiste’s 74th birth anniversary today, veteran actress Ferdousi Mazumder reflected on the man she knew as an extraordinary performer, a gifted storyteller, and a colleague whose absence is still deeply felt.

Faridee, born on May 29, 1952, left an enduring mark on theatre, television and cinema. While he excelled across mediums, he became a household name through his unforgettable portrayal of Kankata Ramjan in the iconic television serial “Sangsaptak”, directed by Abdullah Al Mamun and adapted from the celebrated novel by Shahidullah Kaiser.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Ferdousi Mazumder said memories of Faridee continue to return with a sense of admiration and loss.

“Sometimes I find myself wondering why this man had to leave so soon,” she said. “I have never seen another acting talent quite like Humayun Faridee. We worked together in “Sangsaptak” and I saw his brilliance from close quarters. He was an exceptional human being, with remarkable taste in the way he dressed, carried himself and approached his work.”

The veteran thespian and actress said she still feels a profound sense of regret whenever she thinks of her former co-star.

“I feel sorry when I think about Humayun Faridee. I still regret losing him,” she said. “I have rarely seen such an instinctive actor. His performances were lively, spontaneous and completely natural. He was a man devoted entirely to acting.”

According to Mazumder, Faridee possessed an uncommon versatility that allowed him to disappear into any role he played.

“The qualities he had as an actor cannot be described fully,” she said. “He could fit into any character. Throughout his career, he portrayed so many different kinds of people, and whichever role he played became memorable to audiences.”

Beyond his artistic gifts, Mazumder remembers Faridee as someone who filled every room with laughter.

“He had an incredible sense of humour,” she recalled. “He would often call me and jokingly ask, ‘Ferdousi, is Ramendu beside you? I want to tell him something.’ He loved teasing people and making everyone laugh. So many memories come back when I think of him.”

What set Faridee apart, she said, was his complete command of performance.

“His hands acted, his feet acted, his entire body acted,” she said. “He understood acting at a very deep level. He was a great artist and a great human being. His heart was generous. Despite his stature, he had the simplicity of a child.”

Recalling their time on the set of   “Sangsaptak” Mazumder spoke warmly about the camaraderie shared among the cast.

“We spent such wonderful days working on ‘Sangsaptak’” she said. “Faridee would make us laugh constantly. He was one of the funniest people I have ever known. Nobody could make people laugh the way he did. Sometimes Abdullah Al Mamun would scold us because we could not stop laughing at his jokes.”

Having watched Faridee perform both on stage and on screen, Mazumder said his legacy extends far beyond his body of work.

“I watched him perform in theatre and had the privilege of acting alongside him in television,” she said. “Whenever I remember him, I feel a sense of sadness. We lost someone truly irreplaceable.”

More than a decade after his death, Humayun Faridee’s performances continue to resonate with audiences across generations. Yet for those who worked closely with him, the memories that endure are not only of a remarkable actor, but also of a warm, witty and deeply human presence whose absence is still felt.