(Web Desk) - Jayasree Kabir, a celebrated figure of Bengali cinema, passed away on January 12, at the age of 73.
She died at a nursing home in Romford, Essex, in Greater London, where she had been living quietly.
Her death became publicly known days later because of how private she kept her life.
The news was first shared on Facebook by her nephew Javed Mahmood, who confirmed her passing in a post.
Her son, who lives and works in Singapore, could not be reached at the time and has consistently avoided media attention.
Silence closely followed Jayasree Kabir’s own long-standing preference to stay away from public scrutiny and celebrity culture.
Born on June 22, 1952, she first came into the limelight after winning the Miss Calcutta title in 1968.
Her transition from pageantry to cinema happened swiftly, placing her among a new generation of thoughtful performers.
She made her film debut under legendary director Satyajit Ray in Pratidwandi in 1969.
That appearance is often cited as a defining early moment, situating her within the parallel cinema movement.
Over the years, she acted in more than forty Bengali films produced in Kolkata.
She frequently shared screen space with Uttam Kumar and other leading actors of that era.
Rather than chasing commercial stardom, she built a reputation rooted in restraint, elegance, and emotional precision.
Her performances moved effortlessly between mainstream narratives and more experimental, artistically driven cinema.
Later, Jayasree Kabir relocated to Bangladesh, marking an important chapter both personally and professionally.
There, she formed a close relationship with filmmaker Alamgir Kabir, a key voice in post-independence Bangladeshi cinema.
Her marriage to Alamgir Kabir eventually ended in divorce, and she later left Bangladesh permanently.
After a brief return to Kolkata, she settled in London with her son, seeking a quieter life.
Alamgir Kabir passed away in 1989, a loss that further distanced her from the film world.
In the United Kingdom, she largely withdrew from public life and avoided regular media appearances.
She taught English at a school, recorded voice-over work for BBC and Channel 4, and led cinema workshops.
She also represented Satyajit Ray’s films at international events, speaking thoughtfully about his cinematic legacy.
Despite her reclusive lifestyle, Jayasree Kabir remained deeply aware of developments in Bengali cinema across Dhaka and Kolkata.