Sharmin Joya

In this exclusive interview, the Cultural Adviser opens up about the journey so far— the personal deliberations that preceded his appointment, the professional risks he knowingly took, and the vision he holds for Bangladesh’s cultural future. Yet, behind the sharp public figure, we find a man who still misses the intimacy of the film set—where the only politics involved were those of plot and character.

For the role of Ali, director Adnan Al Rajeev had been searching for a certain kind of presence — an innocent face, someone with long hair and eyes expressive enough to speak volumes without uttering a word. “They auditioned around 40 people for the part,” Al Amin shared. “But they weren’t looking for someone to perform. They wanted someone who could simply be Ali. And they saw that in me.”

Since childhood, Sarika Sabah has immersed herself in the world of art, taking classical dance lessons and specialising in Kathak. Over time, her dedication to dance grew, yet a deeper desire began to burn within her—a dream to one day find her place among the stars. She began her journey in the entertainment industry with TVCs in 2019, while she was a second-year CSE student at North South University, and quickly rose to prominence, winning hearts with her portrayal of Jhumur in Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Raz’s popular mega serial “Family Crisis”.

Actress Nishat Priom, who plays Annie Rozario, shares an inside look at what went into the making of "Fyakra".

The singer has stepped beyond her folk roots to explore a more diverse musical direction, beginning with her latest release “Chol Preme Pure Jai” — a chill step number whose lyrics, tune, and composition have been handled by Autumnal Moon. Released under the banner of G Series, the track marks a refreshing shift in Dora’s journey as an artiste.

Some songs don’t just trend—they take over. One such track is “Chand Mama”, from the film ”Borbaad”, which didn’t just climb the YouTube Music trending list once, but soared to the top twice and is still continuing to evoke emotions even after a month.

There’s no arrogance in his voice when he says it — just the quiet certainty of someone who knows that the real magic lies not in the destination, but in the journey itself. “And right now, for me, that journey is just beginning,” he concludes.

Among the most featured actors, Khairul Basar stands out, starring in 15 projects that are being released one after another. So far, seven have premiered, including “Golper Naam Maya” directed by Shetu Arif, “Shohore Joto Rong” by Syed Shakil, “Manush Ki Bolbe” by Ashikur Rahman, “Payel” by Sayful Hafiz Khan, and “Jodi Amar How” by Serniabat Shawon, among others, while others are on the line.

This Eid, Xefer Rahman surprised fans not just with new music, but also with her return to acting. After her debut in Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s “Monogamy”, she appeared in the highly anticipated web-series “Myself Allen Swapan 2”, directed by Shihab Shaheen. She not only shared the screen with Nasir Uddin Khan but also lent her voice to the series with the track “Boyam Pakhi 2.0”. Simultaneously, her song “Niye Jabe Ki” from the Eid film “Daagi” was added to the festive lineup.

As the film industry gears up for festival seasons, cinema hall owners eagerly anticipate the most hyped time of the year. This Eid-ul-Fitr, six films hit the silver screen: “Borbaad”, “Daagi”, “Jongli”, “Chokkor 302”, “Jinn 3”, and “Antaratma”.

Nidhi’s journey in the entertainment industry began as a composer and music producer. His first film project was Redoan Rony’s “Ice Cream”, and he continued to make his mark with other film scores, including his work on “DamaaI”, “Surongo”, and “Toofan”.

The summit was officially announced in Bangladesh at a launch event held at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka, today, alongside a discussion celebrating 111 years of Indian cinema. The event, organised by the High Commission of India in Dhaka, highlighted the objectives and potential global impact of WAVES. Ann Mary George, first secretary (Culture) at the High Commission of India, shared the vision for WAVES, stating, “We aim to make this an annual event, much like the World Economic Summit in Davos or the Raisina Dialogue for foreign policy. This will be a landmark platform for media and entertainment.”

Tota dreams of working in Bangladesh and collaborating with its filmmakers and actors. “Both our countries have immensely talented artistes. Why should bureaucratic hurdles stand in the way? Artistes have always been free-spirited, and complicating these exchanges only restricts creativity. We share the same language, culture, artistic sensibilities—our collaboration should be seamless.”

About a month ago, the musician performed at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris to celebrate the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day. This monumental occasion marked not just a personal achievement but also a collective step forward for Bangladeshi music on the world stage. In an interview with The Daily Star, the musician discussed his experience, musical journey, and hopes for the future of Bangladeshi music.

Starting out as a model, he made his acting debut in Vicky Zahed’s “Ararat” (2024), portraying a jinn—a performance that caught the people’s attention. His latest release, “Neel Shukh”, has taken him even further, proving that he’s here to stay.

The rising star will be starring in four films this year—two Bangladeshi projects, including one directed by Tanvir Hossain Probal, and two Indian films, one from Tamil Nadu and another from Kolkata. “I have a significant fanbase in Kolkata, and that’s how I was approached for these projects,” he shared.

Bound by music and driven by passion, Rubayat Rehman and Ruslan Rehman have found not just melodies but a shared destiny.

Some connections are simply meant to be. For Nidra Dey Neha and Prantar Dastider, it all began on the set of Goutam Koiri's directorial web-film “Antonagar” (2023). When they first worked together, little did they know that the film would change their lives forever. 

A defining moment in his decade-long career, Shahjahan Shamrat made an unforgettable impact with his portrayal of Razzak in Shankha Dasgupta’s “Priyo Maloti”. Adding his own charm to the character of an empathetic friend, his on-screen persona brought life to the bond of friendship and communal harmony, making the audience emotional.

Unish20 emerged as one of Chorki’s most popular projects in 2023, earning immense recognition from the audience,