Actor Azmeri Haque Badhan reflected on her life and career at an event in Rajshahi University, calling her decision to join the July student movement “one of the most important and best decisions” of her life. Speaking at a discussion titled “Acting, the Actor, and My Life”, organised by the film magazine Magic Lantern Kothamala 13, Badhan opened up about her struggles, personal transformation, and her evolution from a beauty pageant winner to one of the most acclaimed actors in Bangladesh.
Badhan, who first gained fame after winning Lux-Channel i Superstar 2006, said her early years in the spotlight were filled with confusion and misplaced priorities. “People called me a ‘Lux girl’, and I used to enjoy it at that age. But with time, I realised I needed to be more than that,” she shared. After completing her BDS degree in dentistry, she briefly stepped away from acting, got married, and became a mother — but personal hardships soon forced her to return to the media industry. “Back then, I didn’t love my work. I worked only to survive and raise my daughter,” she admitted.
The turning point came in 2018, when she fought a legal battle for her daughter’s custody. “That fight changed me completely,” Badhan said. “I started asking myself — where does the bond of being human lie? Where is my existence?” Her persistence eventually led to a landmark verdict granting her full guardianship, a rare case in Bangladesh’s legal history.
The actor also spoke candidly about her mental health journey. “I’ve been diagnosed with chronic depression and borderline personality disorder. Therapy helped me discover my true self,” she said. Her therapist’s question — “Do you love what you do?” — pushed her to find passion in acting again.
That rediscovery led her to Abdullah Mohammad Saad’s “Rehana Maryam Noor”, a role she described as “life-changing.” The film not only earned critical acclaim but also took her to the Cannes Film Festival, marking a milestone for Bangladeshi cinema. Since then, Badhan has starred in international projects such as “Rabindranath Ekhane Kokhono Khete Ashenni” and “Khufiya”.
Badhan said her participation in the July protests was driven by a sense of moral responsibility: “I can’t stay silent when injustice unfolds before my eyes. As a conscious citizen, I must speak up. Taking to the streets in July was one of the best and most meaningful decisions of my life.”
Looking ahead, Badhan expressed interest in screenwriting and creating stories that inspire change. “I want a better world for my daughter,” she said. “I want to tell stories that touch hearts — not just globally, but here at home.”
Courtesy: Daily Star Online
