I'm lucky: Shabana

She is popularly known to us as Shabana, actress Shabana, who quit the glamour world 17 years ago. Shabana is now living with her husband Wahid Sadik and three children thousands of miles away from Bangladesh, in New Jersey, United States.

Shabana, who has recently come to Bangladesh, talked to Prothom Alo last Wednesday. Prothom Alo's Monzur Kader took the interview.

Prothom Alo (PA): You quit the acting in films all of a sudden and flew to the US. Why?

Shabana: It's all about my family. My elder daughter Shumi went to the States for higher education after completing her A-Levels in Bangladesh. A year later, my younger daughter also got admission to Yale.

They were missing me there. I decided to leave Bangladesh and went to US with my husband and son Nahin. I felt I had spent a long time in the film industry and had managed to win the love of by the people and was known as Shabana. So, I decided to wrap it all up and leave.

PA: How did you feel about leaving all this fame and the fans?

Shabana: The film world was my family. I worked for it relentlessly. I did miss my co-actors, directors, the atmosphere at the FDC (Film Development Corporation). But, at one stage, people had no choice. These things come up gradually and we have to go through it. But, I still feel so lucky.

PA:What are your children doing now?
Shabana: Shumi Iqbal has completed MBA and CPA from USA. She is now a complete housewife. My younger daughter Urmi Sadik is set to complete her PhD from Harvard University. My son Nahin Sadik, who has completed his master's degree from Rutgers University, now is working at Bloomberg.

PA: How do you pass your days in US?
Shabana: I have to do all the family chores and other things. So, I remain quite busy there. Apart from my personal business, I always look for Bangladesh news online. That's all.

PA: Do you watch your old films?
Shabana: When Bangladesh television channels run my films, it delights me. That let's me to recall my old memories.

PA: Do you see current Bangladeshi films?
Shabana: I have seen Shakib Khan's movies. I heard of his name. I also heard that Shakib Khan is now popular in India. It makes me happy when I came to know our actor is popular in India.

PA: You have been given lifetime award at National Film Award. How do you feel?
Shabana: I'm proud of that. It's not my achievement alone. My parents, directors and those who made me Shabana are part of this award.