On her birthday, Pori Moni misses her grandfather; she weeps, recalling memories of waking him up to cut a cake.

On the occasion of Dhallywood actress Pori Moni’s 34th birthday, the joy of the day is tinged with the pain of losing her beloved grandfather. Her grandfather, Shamsul Haque Gazi, used to wake her up to cut her birthday cake—a tradition that is no longer possible as he is no longer by her side. Although she celebrated her birthday with her two children, the actress deeply feels the void left by his absence.

In the past, Pori Moni’s birthdays were synonymous with grand, lavish celebrations—held in five-star hotels, featuring themed attire, the presence of fellow stars, cake-cutting ceremonies, and music and dance—all of which would become the talk of the Dhallywood film industry. While the scale of her celebrations has since become more modest, the emotional significance of the day remains as profound as ever.

Pori Moni’s birthday falls on October 24th. Late last night (Friday), she celebrated the occasion by cutting a cake with her two children. Yet, even in this moment of joy, her thoughts kept returning to her late grandfather.

Speaking to *Prothom Alo*, Pori Moni shared, "When my grandfather was alive, he used to wake me up to cut my birthday cake. Now, he is no longer here. Thinking about it brings me to tears."

Her grandfather: A pillar of support in her childhood

Born on October 24, 1992, in Satkhira, Pori Moni—whose full name is Shamsunnahar Smrity—lost her mother at the tender age of three. She subsequently grew up at her maternal grandparents' home in Pirojpur. Her grandfather, Shamsul Haque Gazi, served as her greatest source of strength and security.

Since losing her grandfather in 2023, the vibrancy of her birthday celebrations has dimmed. Even when she hosts larger gatherings, the absence of her beloved grandfather weighs heavily on her. On various occasions, the actress has expressed on social media how lonely she feels without him.

From dance to the silver screen

Driven by a dream to become an actress, Pori Moni learned dance during her childhood and enrolled at the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA). Later, she secured opportunities to act in television dramas. Her acting credits in television dramas include ‘Second Innings’, ‘Exclusive’, and ‘Extra Bachelor’.

She made her big-screen debut in 2015 with the film ‘Bhalobasha Shimahin’, directed by Shah Alam Mondal. Subsequently, she appeared in various films, including ‘Rokto’, ‘Antor Jwala’, ‘Bishwashundori’, ‘Adventure of Sundarban’, ‘Gunin’, and ‘Maa’.

Among the notable works in her career is ‘Swapnojal’, directed by Gias Uddin Selim; her portrayal of the character ‘Shubhra’ earned her significant acclaim. She also delivered a distinct performance in the film ‘Maa’, playing the role of a mother who has lost her child.

In addition to cinema, she has worked on OTT platforms. Following her appearance in the web series ‘Rangila Kitab’, she also made her debut in the Kolkata film industry (Tollywood) with the movie ‘Felubokshi’.

Twists and Turns in Her Personal Life

Pori Moni’s personal life has frequently been a subject of public discussion. She married director Kamruzzaman Rony in 2020, though that relationship later ended. Subsequently, while working on the film ‘Gunin’, she met and grew close to actor Shariful Razz; the two married in 2021. Their son, Rajjo, was born in August 2022—he was later renamed Shahim Muhammad Punno.

Following marital struggles and a subsequent separation, Pori Moni is currently rebuilding her life with her children; she has also taken on the guardianship of a young girl.

She commands a massive following on social media, where she regularly shares personal reflections, moments spent with her children, and updates regarding her latest projects. However, alongside her celebrity status, questions have occasionally been raised regarding the consistency of her success in her acting career.

Looking Ahead to New Projects

Films like ‘Swapnojal’ and ‘Maa’ have highlighted the potential within Pori Moni’s acting career. There remains, however, ample opportunity for her to harness that potential more consistently moving forward. Her next goal may well be to establish her acting prowess even more firmly before the audience through new films and characters.

A report by *Prothom Alo* further mentions that Pori Moni might soon appear in a new film, in which popular small-screen actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba is expected to star opposite her. Filming for the project is slated to begin this year.

Thus, Pori Moni’s birthday brings a blend of both joy and sorrow. While she is moving forward, rebuilding her life with her two children, the memory of that cherished person—who used to wake her up to cut a birthday cake—still leaves her deeply emotional to this day.