Renowned actress Jayasree Kabir passes away

Jayasree Kabir, one of the most accomplished actresses of Bengali cinema and a Miss Calcutta title holder, has passed away.

She breathed her last on Monday (12 January) while undergoing treatment at a hospital in London.

Confirming the death, her nephew Javed Mahmud said, "She had been suffering from various physical complications for a long time."

Born in Kolkata in 1952, Jayasree was raised and educated in the city. After completing her studies at South Point School, she stepped into the world of glamour. She first came into the spotlight in 1968 by winning the Miss Calcutta title.

Her entry into cinema came under the guidance of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, with her debut on the silver screen in the film "Pratidwandi", released in 1971.

Although born in Kolkata, Jayasree Kabir's popularity reached its peak through Bangladeshi cinema. Under the direction of renowned filmmaker Alamgir Kabir, she acted in several timeless films.

Notable among them are Simana Periye (1977), Rupali Saikate (1979), Surjo Konya (1975) and Mohona (1982). The song "Bimurto Ei Ratri Amar, Mounotai Sutoy Buna Ekti Rongin Chador" from Simana Periye remains widely popular even today.

After leaving films, she had been living permanently in London for many years. There, she worked as a teacher of English literature at a university. She last visited Dhaka nearly a decade ago and had not returned to Bangladesh since. She spent her expatriate life with her only son, Lenin.

In 1975, Jayasree married filmmaker Alamgir Kabir. However, the marriage did not last long, and the couple separated after about three years. Following the personal turmoil, she initially returned to Kolkata and later moved to London.

Some of her other memorable films include Asadharan (1976), Dena Paona (1981), Nalish (1982), Puraskar (1983) and Shohor Theke Dure (1984).