Actress Parveen Sultana Diti passes away after months of strife with brain cancer
In 2015, a photograph of a woman running her fingers through her hair went viral on Facebook. The person in the picture was none other than eminent film and television actress Parveen Sultana Diti. It captured Diti collecting her worn out hair in a bag.
It came as a shock to the entire nation when the actress’ daughter Lamia Chowdhury announced that her mother was going to die from cancer. Upon being diagnosed with brain cancer on July 25, 2015, the actress was flown to India to receive treatment from Madras Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology.
When her health was stable, she was brought back to Bangladesh. But Diti’s recovery took a different turn and the battle with cancer never came to a standstill. By the end of 2015, she again flew to India in November.
On March 20, 2016, the news spread like wildfire that actress Parveen Sultana Diti has passed away. Upon struggling with cancer, she finally breathed her last at United Hospital in Dhaka at 4:05pm, leaving family, friends and fans to mourn her death.
Initially, Diti started out as a singer and in 1978 she won an award for a song. The popular actress of the 90s began her acting career with the film Daak Diye Jai in the year 1984 directed by Udayan Chowdhury; her first released film was Ami-i- Ostad. Diti starred in more than 200 films and has won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1987 for her role in Shami Stri. The middle-class cine-goers welcomed her as their sweetheart for all the beautiful roles she has played throughout her career. The charismatic Diti, also hosted a television show on cooking. Her versatility speaks through her work, not just in terms of acting, but also directing. The actor turned director created a Bengali TV drama titled Breaking News. Anubhobe Anukhone was a one-hour play that was directed by her. Respected by all her colleagues for her amiable nature and hospitality, this versatile actress truly portrayed a real life character that can win hearts of anyone and everyone who got to know her.
Despite holding so many skills under her belt, Diti truly loved acting for the big screen. In an interview with Daily Star, she said, “I enjoy acting in films very much. A film artiste easily captures millions of hearts, which is tough for a small screen actor. An artiste can live in people’s minds for years through a film,” when asked about her favourite medium of acting. Hiramoti, Dui Jibon, Bhai Bondhu, Usila, Lady Ispector, Khuner Badla, Ajker Hungama, Shesh Upohar, Chorom Aghat, Shami Stri, Aporadhi, Kaliya, Kaal Sokale, Megher Kole Rod, Akash Choya Bhalobasha, Mayamoy are some of the notable works during her career of 31 years.