Legendary Bangla movie star Abdur Razzak popularly known as ‘Nayak Raj Razzak’ died of cardiac arrest at the city’s United Hospital this evening. He was 75.

‘Razzak was taken to the hospital at around 5.20 pm where the on-duty doctors declared him dead around 6.13pm,’ Dr Shagufa Anwar, communication director of United Hospital told BSS.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock at the death of the renowned film star.

In separate messages, they prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif, State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote president, State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim and Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique also mourned the death of the legendary film actor.

The national-award winning actor was born on January 23, 1942 in Naktala, South Kolkata in India.

The celebrated film star made more than 300 appearances in Bengali and Urdu movies and also directed around sixteen movies.

During his adolescence, he participated in theatre productions in Kolkata. While studying at a college in Kolkata, he made his first film appearance in ‘Ratan Lal Bangali’.

Hoping to become a film star, Razzak went to study film in Filmalaya in Mumbai, India in 1961. Returning from Mumbai, he performed in two movies in Kolkata, ‘Pankotilak’ and ‘Shilalipi’.

However, the Hindu-Muslim riot, which broke out in 1964, forced Razzak and his family to migrate to Dhaka.

After migrating to East Pakistan, Razzak found the path to stardom was not easy. Initially, he acted in TV plays. He became a favourite of the viewers of Pakistani television, acting in the series Ghoroa.

However, he remained focused on his dream of becoming a ‘film star’.

A pioneering filmmaker in Bangladesh, Abdul Jabbar Khan, helped Razzak to join Iqbal Films Limited. Razzak was the assistant to the director Kamal Ahmed in the movie Ujala.

Razzak’s major breakthrough in movies was his performance in Salahuddin’s ‘Tero Nombor Feku Ostagar Lane’.

Razzak’s first big break in cinema came with his role in Zahir Raihan’s Behula (1966).

Some of his notable works are ‘Neel Akasher Nichey’, ‘Maynamati, ‘Osru Diye Likha’, ‘Jibon Theke Neya’, ‘Obujh Mon’, Moner Moto Bou’, ‘Abirbhab’, ‘Bashori’, ‘Etotuku Asha’, ‘Je Agune Puri’, ‘Moinamothi’, ‘Dwip Neva Nai’, ‘Sharalipi’, ‘Ashikkhit’, ‘Chutir Ghanta’ and more.

He was given the title of Nayak Raj Razzak by Ahmed Zaman Chowdhury, editor of Chitrali.

Razzak acted in leading roles with many prominent actors, including Anwar Hossain, Bulbul Ahmed, Sohel Rana, Ilias Kanchan, Shuchanda, Shabana, Bobita, Kabori, Sujata, Shabnam and others. He appeared in a number of films opposite actresses Sarah Begum Kobori and Shabana.

Najak Raj attained Independence Day Award in 2015. He won five times National Film Awards for — ‘Ki je Kori’ in 1976, Oshikkhito in 1978, Boro Bhalo Lok Chilo in 1982, Chandranath in 1984 and Jogajog in 1988.

He attained Indo-Bangla Kala Music Award under Khan Ataur Rahman Lifetime Achievement category in 2003, life time achievement in Bachsas Awards in 2009, Ifad Film Club Award in 2012, Babisas Award in 2012 and Meril Prothom Alo Award in 2014.