Bengali cinema has produced a long list of excellent masterpieces from its inception to the present. Along with the movies that have been ranked in recognition and popularity are the actors and actresses whose performances made the movies truly memorable.
Popular actors from Bangladesh include:
1) Uttam Kumar
He is recognized as “the” superstar of Bengali movies, as well as the most popular Bengali actor of all time. His first film, Dristidaan, was released in 1948. Since then, he made countless films every year until 1980, when he unexpectedly died of a heart attack. Movie fans especially loved his romantic movies with actress Suchitra Sen.
2) Saumitra Chatterjee
This talented actor is a favorite of the Bengali director Satyajit Ray, appearing in about half of all the films made by the great director. He first appeared in the last film of the Apu Trilogy as the Apu in distress. He also appeared in another trilogy, this time in all three films: Charulata, Samapti and Ghare Baire, also by Satyajit Ray, called the Calcutta Trilogy. In addition to being an actor, Saumitra Chatterjee also wrote and directed plays in Bengali.
The most popular Bengali actresses are:
1) Suchitra Sen
Regarded as the most popular Bengali actress of all time, Suchitra Sen also has the distinction of being the first Indian actress to receive an award from an international film festival. This was the Best Actress award for the film Saat Paake Bnadha, which was awarded to her at the 1963 Moscow Film Festival. She is also most loved as the other half of the enduring love team with Uttam Kumar.
2) Supriya Chaudhury
A favorite of film directors during the golden age of Bengali cinema, Supriya Chaudhury acted as the female lead in most of her films. She is remembered primarily for her role in Bangla Nato Meghe Dhaka Tara as Neeta, the breadwinner of a struggling refugee family.