Nayak Raj Razzak: The eternal hero of Bangla cinema

Published : Friday, 23 January, 2026 at 5:33 PM Count : 318

Today marks the 84th birth anniversary of the legendary film star Nayak Raj Razzak, a name that shines like a beacon in the history of Bangladeshi cinema. Decades after his rise to stardom, his charm, talent, and contribution to the silver screen continue to inspire generations of filmmakers, actors, and audience alike.

To honour the iconic actor, Nayak Raj’s family has arranged a series of programmes, including a doa mahfil and food distribution among the destitute. Television channels are also paying tribute by airing special shows dedicated to his life and work.

Channel i, in particular, has lined up a full day of programmes-starting with a musical tribute at 7:30am, followed by a segment on songs from his films at 1:05pm. At 4:30pm, viewers can watch a special interview hosted by Abdur Rahman, and at 5:20pm, a documentary on his life produced by Shykh Seraj will be aired.

Born on 23 January 1942, at Nagtola in Tollygunge, Kolkata, Razzak’s early life was marked by hardship. He lost both his parents Akbar Hossain and Nisarunnesa at a very young age and grew up in Kolkata under difficult circumstances.

While studying in class seven at Khanpur High School, he discovered his passion for acting through school drama. That spark would one day ignite a remarkable career. In 1964, he moved to Dhaka, where a meeting with Abdul Jabbar Khan, the producer of “Mukh O Mukhosh”, changed his life. With Jabbar’s support, Razzak joined Iqbal Films and stepped into the world of professional cinema.

Although he later made his directorial debut with Chanpa Dangar Bou, acting remained his true forte. Within a short time, he became the most beloved face of Bangladeshi cinema. His breakthrough role came in Salahuddin’s “Tero Nombor Feku Ostagar Lane”, and he went on to win millions of hearts with his powerful performance in “Rangbaj”, widely regarded as the country’s first modern action film.

In 1976, Razzak expanded his creative role by becoming a producer with the film “Akankha”. Over his long and prolific career, he acted in more than 300 Bengali and Urdu films, directed around sixteen movies, and won the National Film Award five times.

Beyond the screen, Nayak Raj also played a vital role in shaping the film community. He was the founding president of the Bangladesh Film Artistes’ Association, working tirelessly for the welfare and recognition of actors.

The legendary artiste passed away on 21 August 2017 in Dhaka. Yet, his presence still lives on—in the frames of black-and-white classics, in the fiery dialogues of action films, and in the hearts of millions who still call him Nayak Raj the King of Heroes.

FP/MI