Veteran actress Surekha Sikri dies at 75



Entertainment Desk, Barta24.com 
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In a sad piece of news, three-time National Film Award-winning actress Surekha Sikri is no more. The veteran actress died of cardiac arrest at the age of 75.

Sikri's manager confirmed her sad demise to a leading news portal. Sikri who became a household name as Kalyani Devi in Balika Vadhu, had an illustrious career spanning over four decades.

Sikri made her debut in the 1978 political drama film Kissa Kursi Ka and went on to play supporting roles in numerous Hindi and Malayalam films, as well as in Indian soap operas. A veteran of Hindi theatre, Sikri won her first National Film Award in 1988 for her film Tamas. Her second National Award came in 1995 for Shyam Benegal's Mammo. The Nazar actress won her third National Film Award for the 2018 comedy-drama Badhaai Ho, co-starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Sanya Malhotra.

The actress had been unwell for a long time. Sikri's manager while talking to Indian Express said, "Three-time national award-winning actress, Surekha Sikri has passed away following a cardiac arrest earlier this morning at the age of 75. She had been suffering from complications arising from a second brain stroke. She was surrounded by family and her caregivers. The family asks for privacy at this time. Om Sai Ram," her manager shared the heartbreaking news.

She is survived by her son Rahul Sikri from her first marriage. Her husband Hemant Rege, died due to heart failure on October 20, 2009. National Film Award-winning actor Naseeruddin Shah is her former brother-in-law, as his first marriage was with her step-sister Manara Sikri also known as Parveen Murad.

In 2020, Sikri suffered a brain stroke and was discharged from the hospital in a few days. She was born in Uttar Pradesh and spent most of her childhood in Almora and Nainital. She graduated from the National School of Drama in 1971. Some of her best films are Sarfarosh, Zubeidaa, Sheer Qorma, Sardari Begum, Dillagi, Anaadi Anant etc.

On the work front, Sikri was last seen in director Zoya Akhtar's short film in the Netflix anthology Ghost Stories.

   

April 23 is declared as Black Day of Filmdom



Entertainment Desk, Barta24.com
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Entertainment journalists including the Television Camera Journalists Association staged a human chain and protest rally on Wednesday (April 24) to protest the organized attack on journalists at BFDC. At that time, they declared April 23 as the film's black day.

Meanwhile, in the night, in the decision of the inquiry committee formed by the journalists and artistes' association, the artists' association accepted four of the five-point demands of the journalists. However, Joy Chowdhury refused to accept the demand of expulsion from the association for two years and was banned for one month and asked to express his regret in front of everyone. But when Joy Chowdhury tried to divert the incident without expressing his grief, the journalists got angry.

A protest rally held at the gate of FDC on Wednesday afternoon demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in the incident. Journalist leaders said that the attack on FDC led by actor Joy Chowdhury, actor Shiva Shanu and villain Alexander Bo was a pre-planned and attempted murder.

After the human chain, the journalists submitted a memorandum to the Managing Director of FDC and demanded a fair investigation of the incident.

Aggrieved by this incident, the journalists declared Joy Chowdhury banned from FDC for life and declared April 23 as Film Black Day.

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Shilpi Samiti President Misha Saudagar, Secretary Dipjal



Special Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Actor Misha Saudagar has won the president post of Bangladesh Film Artists Association this year (2024-26). Actor Monowar Hossain Dipjal has won the post of general secretary.

Misha Saudagar got 265 votes for the post of president, his rival Mahmud Koli got 170 votes. On the other hand, Dipjol got 225 votes for the post of general secretary, his rival Nipun Akhter got 209 votes.

Apart from Misha-Dipjol, Masum Parvez Rubel won the post of vice-president by getting 234 votes and DA Taib got 231 votes. Arman won the post of joint general secretary, Joy Chowdhury as organizing secretary, Alexander Bo as international affairs secretary, Jackie Alamgir as office and publicity secretary, Mamnoon Imon of Koli Nipun panel as culture and sports secretary and Kamal as treasurer.

Besides, 11 members of the Executive Council were elected – Sucharita, Rozina, Aliraj, Subrata, Dilara Yasmin, Shahnoor, Nana Shah, Ratna Kabir, Chunnu and Poli and Soni Rahman of the Kali-Nipun panel.

Voting begins at 9:30 am on Friday (April 19). Lasts till 5:30 pm. 475 artists voted in a festive atmosphere.

There were 570 total voters in this election. 48 candidates from two panels, including six independents, contested in this election to form a 21-member committee. In an alliance between the two rival panels were the two actors Misha and Dipjol from current Dhakai prominent film actors. From another panel, Golden past days hero Mahmood Koli and heroine Nipun Akhter fought.

In this election, Chief Election Commissioner was Khorshed Alam Khosru and members were AJ Rana and BH Nishan. Election results were declared at 7 am on Saturday.

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Baby Nazneen lost her mother



Entertainment Desk, Barta24.com
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Popular singer Baby Nazneen has lost her mother. On the morning of 17th April, her mother Abida Mansoor died in Bangladesh Medical College Hospital while undergoing treatment. (Inna lillahi wa---- Rajiun). She was 75 years old.

She was suffering from various problems including kidney complications for a long time. She is survived by three daughters, one son, grandchildren and many other great-grandchildren. According to family sources of Baby Nazneen, she was buried at Banani graveyard after Zohar prayer on Wednesday. On April 16, Baby Nazneen left for Japan from the US for professional reasons. She got the news of her mother's death from there. She is scheduled to return to Dhaka soon. She asked everyone to pray for her mother.



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Popular singer Khalid passed away



Entertainment Desk, Barta24.com
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Khalid, vocalist of popular musician Chaime band, has passed away (innalillahi wainna ilahi rajioun).

He died on Monday (March 18) around 7:15 pm. The singer's body is said to be at Comfort Hospital, Green Road.

This information was confirmed by lyricist and composer Prince Mahmud.

Among the notable songs sung by Khalid are– Saralater Pratime, Jatata Megh hole Brishti namey, Kono karonei ferano gelo takey, Hoyne jabaro bela, Jodi himalay theke dukkho ashe, Tumi nei tai.  

The songs of Khalid, the artist of numerous popular songs, were once on the lips of the neighborhood listeners, played in various shops including Bipani Bitan. 

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