Abul Hayat reflects on his battle with cancer at the launch of his autobiography

At the launch of his autobiography, Robi Pot, actor, playwright and director, winner of the Ekushey Padak Award, Abul Hayat was moved to tears, and his sincere emotions moved many spectators as well.

The event, held at the gallery hall of Shilpakala Academy, attracted luminaries of art and culture who gathered to honor the life and contributions of Abul Hayat. With eight decades of life and a storied career under his belt, Hayat has finally captured his journey in words, opening a window into his personal and professional life.

The launch event, organized by the Actors Guild, featured Dhaka University professor Syed Manzurul Islam as the chief guest. The audience was filled with respected figures from the entertainment industry including Mamunur Rashid, Tariq Anam Khan, Nawazish Ali Khan and Sara Zaker. Hayat’s daughters, actress and architect Bipasha Hayat, who flew in from the US, and Natasha Hayat were also there to support their father.

The host of the evening, Aupe Karim, invited Abul Hayat to speak. When he took the stage, the importance of his journey became clear. Midway through the performance, he called his wife Shirin Hayat onto the stage, taking her hand, and became visibly emotional. He began to cry, his voice cracking as he spoke about his life, plunging the audience into deep silence.

In a rare and candid moment, Hayat shared a deeply personal story. “Three years ago I found out I had cancer. When I came home from the hospital, I couldn’t speak.” He paused, then continued, his voice shaking as he remembered how his wife consoled him. “She told me, ‘What’s the problem? We’re all here. You’ll feel better. We will do our best.”

He described sleepless nights and moments of despair, but expressed deep gratitude to his daughters Bipasha and Natasha, who became a source of strength for him. “They gave me hope, they gave me the courage to keep fighting,” he said with obvious gratitude.

With calm determination, he shared his ongoing struggle and the determination he finds in his family. “Please pray for me,” he implored the audience, tears streaming down his face. “I want to keep fighting. My family is with me. Your love is with me.”

As Hayat stood in tears, his daughters, Bipasha and Natasha, could no longer contain their emotions and cried as they watched their father, a figure they had always considered strong, expose his vulnerabilities. The entire hall fell into silence, many of those present were visibly agitated. It was a moment of shared sympathy, a collective recognition of his struggles and victories.

Reflecting on Robi Pot, Hayat said, “This book has been ten years in the making. My family inspired me to write my autobiography. I don’t know how well I wrote it, but I tried.”

The emotional atmosphere was softened by the actors reading selected passages from the book, bringing Hayat’s stories to life. Earlier in the evening, singer Farheen Khan Joyita performed a soulful song while Faheem Hossain Chowdhury captivated the audience with his song “Akash Bhora Shurjo Tara”. Dancer Tahmina Sultana Maw added elegance to her performance, setting a graceful tone for the event.

Published by Suborno Prakashani, Robi Pot is more than an autobiography – it is a mirror of Abul Hayat’s journey of resilience, love and dedication to his craft and his family.

As the event drew to a close, Hayat’s legacy became more vibrant. Through his words, he shared not only his story, but also his heart, reminding everyone that behind every artist there is a person who, even at 80 years old, continues to fight, love and create.