I always tried to make my only son a gentle human

Farida Akhtar Poppy, known by her stage name Babita, is a Bangladeshi film actress. She is a popular actress in Bangladeshi films of the 1970s. Babita acted in more than 350 films. Babita won three consecutive National Film Awards for three consecutive years. After winning the National Film Award in 1975 for the film ‘Badi Theke Begum’, she won Best Actor in 1976 for the film ‘Nayanmoni’ directed by Amzad Hossain, and for the film ‘Basundhara’ by Subhash Dutta in 1977.

Apart from this, Babita later received National Film awards four more times for the films ‘Poka Makorer Ghar Basoti’, ‘Ramer Sumati’, ‘Ke Apan Ke Par’ and ‘Hason Raja’.

In addition, she was awarded the lifetime achievement award of the National Film Award in the year 2016.

Talking about her acting career, awards, and personal life, Babita said, “I have been acting all my life. And I have always tried to make my only child a gentle human. By the grace of Allah, I can make Anik a human being with my efforts - that’s enough in my life. I consider Lifetime Achievement Award as the highest achievement of my acting career.”

“Respected Zahir Raihan was the inspiration behind my venture into films. Then those whose names I would like to mention are the honorable Khan Ataur Rahman, Subhash Dutt, Narayan Ghosh Mita, Kazi Zahir, Sheikh Niamat Ali, Abdullah Al Mamun, Amjad Hossain, Chashi Nazrul Islam, and above all who supported me as a family member outside of acting, he is none other, our hero Raj Razzak. I am especially grateful to renowned Oscar-winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray, as I became recognised in the international arena by acting in his film ‘Ashani Sanket’, she added.

Regarding her family, Babita said, “After my mother’s death, my elder sister Suchanda Apa has taken care of me and my younger sister Champa has always been by my side like a shadow. My only child Anik is now my world, my motivation to live. Of course, I am grateful to my audience in this country. Because of their love and encouragement, I have pushed myself forward. I have become today’s complete Babita.”