Suchitra Sen is the first Bengali actress to win an international film festival award. She won the Best Actress award for Saat Paake Bandha at the 1963 Moscow film festival.

Suchitra Sen was born on April 6, 1931, in Pabna District, which is now in Bangladesh.

Sen's father Karunamoy Dasgupta was a headmaster at a local school and also a sanitation officer in Pabna Municipality.

Shesh Kothaay (Bengali), the first film Suchitra Sen acted in, was never released.

Suchitra Sen received the Best Actress Award for her very first Hindi film Devdas (1955), in which she portrayed the character of Paro.

Sen formed a legendary pair with another great actor Uttam Kumar. From Sare Chuattor (1953) to Priyo Bandhobi in 1975, they were seen together in 30 movies.

Her role of a nurse, who is asked to develop a personal relationship with male patients to cure them, in Bengali film Deep Jwele Jaai (1959) is considered among her best ever. The film was remade in Hindi as Khamoshi, with Waheeda Rehman essaying Sen's role.

Sen was nominated for the Best Actress for her performance in Aandhi (1975) in which her role was said to be inspired by Indira Gandhi. While she did not win the award, co-star Sanjeev Kumar walked away with the Best Actor trophy.

Her daughter Moon Moon Sen is also an actress who appeared in regional as well as Bollywood films apart from TV shows. Actresses Riya and Raima Sen are Suchitra Sen's granddaughters.

Suchitra Sen was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 by Government of India.

Sen retired from acting in 1978 after a career spanning over 25 years, and has since stayed away from public life.

It has been alleged that the actress refused the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005 as she wanted to stay away from the public glare.

In 2012, Suchitra Sen was conferred with Banga Bibhushan, West Bengal government's highest award.

An undated photograph of Suchitra Sen.