LAHORE: Veteran film star Shabnam says she often visits Pakistan to meet old friends and recall memories of good old days.

“Pakistan’s visit always has a flood of memories; I spent life here. I meet people, especially friends, and recall memories of film studios and what not,” said Shabnam who is currently in Faisalabad on a personal visit.

Speaking to Dawn over phone on Sunday, Shabnam shared that the only regret she has is the state of Lollywood and TV industry. Asked why she did not start an acting institute in Pakistan to train the young actors, she said: “I really wanted to work on this idea but here the attitude of young actors is that they know everything and they don’t need any training.”

“I was offered many projects in Pakistan but they did not succeed and were later wrapped up. Among these are Mohini Mansion Ki Cinderellayain, a TV project, and Aina 2 -- a sequel to her 1977 hit Aina.

“I only come here to recall good old days and meet old friends and my visit to Faisalabad is purely personal,” said the veteran actor. She said now she did not disclose her visit otherwise people think that she was looking for some project.

“How ironic it is that I have done 170 or so films in Pakistan and had a wonderful career but the attitude of showbiz lot here is quite strange. It has taught me one thing that I should quietly come to see friends and go back to Dhaka,” lamented Shabnam. She said Covid-19 had also played a role in minimising activities.

She said she had performed almost all kinds of roles in films and now she perhaps did not have any wish to do any particular role. She said the old movies used to be message-oriented but the films she had seen now are good but they mostly seem long TV plays.

Regretting the present situation of film studios in Lahore, she said: “During one of my visits to Pakistan I visited the Bari Studios and felt so bad about the fact that most of the cinema had turned into godown.” Many of her movies were shot at Evernew Studios, she said, adding that she had wonderful memories attached with film studios in Lahore.

Shabnam said she very much belonged to Pakistan and its film industry but her regret was that an actor who won Nigar Award 13 times -- a record to date, now had no room in an industry that used to be her home. People made false promises and had countless excuses, she regretted.

“When I visit Pakistan I do meet old friends. I went to Lehri Sb place and met many friends. During my last visit to Pakistan, I could not meet Firdous and had an impression that her family was not much interested in my visit... such things hurt,” she said.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2021