Biography
Purnima is a popular actress, known both in Bangladesh and in India for her excellence in acting in film industry. She was born as Dilara Hanif Rita on 11 July, 1981 in the port city of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Her parents are Mohammad Hanif and Sufia Begum. She spent her childhood in Chittagong until she joined the film industry and moved to the capital city, Dhaka.
Purnima's debut film was E Jibon Tomar Amar (1998), opposite heartthrob hero Riaz, directed by Jakir Hossain Raju. She was only fourteen years old and was in class nine when the film was released.
She gained immense popularity among the Bengali speaking audience of Kolkata for her role in Bangladesh-India joint-venture film Moner Majhe Tumi (2003). It was a blockbuster hit in both Bangladesh and in India, earning her a fan following in both countries. Among her notable performances include Megher Pore Megh (2004), based on the novel by Rabeya Khatun which itself was inspired by the events of 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh. Directed by acclaimed director Chashi Nazrul Islam, Megher Pore Megh (2004) was both commercially successful and critically acclaimed. Following the success of Megher Pore Megh (2004), Purnima appeared in two more films, Shasti (2004) and Shuvaa (2006), under the direction of Chashi Nazrul Islam. Both of these films were based on novels by Rabindranath Tagore. Purnima's performance in both of these films were praised by both fans and critics alike. In 2006, she paired up with Riaz again in Hridoyer Kotha (2006), directed by S.A. Haque Olike. This film was a sensational hit of 2006 and many of it's song topped the music charts around the nation. Their next collaboration, Akash Chhoa Bhalobasa (2008), was another hit with music topping the charts again. These two films made Purnima very popular among the young generation.
Throughout her career, Purnima appeared in commercial and critical successful films like - Nishwase Tumi Biswase Tumi (2001), Moner Majhe Tumi (2003), Jamai Shashur (2003), Megher Pore Megh (2004), Shasti (2004), Hridoyer Kotha (2006), Shuvaa (2006), Rakkhushi (2006), Akash Chhoa Bhalobasa (2008), Shubho Bibaho (2009), Ora Amake Bhalo Hote Dilo Na (2010), Chaya Chobi (2013), Munshigiri (2021), Chironjeeb Mujib (2021) and Gangchil to mention a few.
Purnima's success in acting also extends to television dramas, music videos and TV-commercials. Her television role includes Ghorer Khobor Porer Khobor (2002), Durghot (2004), television mega-series Laal Neel Beguni (2010), Laboratory (2011), Off Side (2015), Fire Jawa Holo Na (2016), Tumi Ami Pasha Pashi (2017), Hotath Prem Onek Bhalobasha (2017), Candy Crush (2018), Hello 911 Love Emergency (2018), Sub-let (2019), Bhalo Bashabashi (2020), Ei Prithibi Amader (2021) and many more.
Her sister, Dilruba Hanif is a fashion designer by profession but is a theatre artist as well. Purnima acted with her sister, who appeared in the role of a teacher, in the television series Idiots (2013), directed by Muhammad Mostafa Kamal Raz.
Purnima has had tremendous success in presenting and hosting award-presentation ceremonies and recorded TV-programmes. She has gained immense popularity hosting 'Meril - Prothom Alo Awards'. Two of the TV-talk show hosted by her - "And Purnima" and "Purnima'r Alo" were really popular among its viewers. In addition to acting and hosting, She has excelled in modelling as well, appearing in ramp-walk every now and then.
Purnima married a businessman named Mostaq Kibria on September 6, 2005. The couple divorced on May 15, 2007. After her first marriage fell apart, she married businessman Ahmed Jamal Fahad on 4 November 2007. With Ahmed Fahad, she has a daughter named Arshia Umaiza, born in 2014. After her divorce with Ahmed Fahad, she married again to Ashfaqur Rahman Robin on 27 May 2022.
Along with the admiration of millions, Purnima has achieved many accolades in her illustrious career spanning decades. Most notably, She has won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film Ora Amake Bhalo Hote Dilo Na (2010), written and directed by Kazi Hayat. For her performances in various films, Purnima has won the prestigious "Meril Prothom Alo Awards" five times in the best film actress category till date (2023). She was also nominated numerous times for the same award in the same category and in the best television actress category.
Now-a-days, Purnima enjoys travelling around the world with her daughter and husband while acting in only a handful of selected films every year .
