“Wait, let me move into another room,” said Jaya Ahsan over the phone from Kolkata, not wanting the staff in her makeup room to hear what she had to say. “We are turning into animals. I already knew that we are in a male-dominated society, but what happened yesterday is in no way a reflection of the country that we want Bangladesh to be.”
What was supposed to be a conversation on Jaya’s spectacular success in both “Taandob” and “Utshob” soon turned into a pseudo-political discussion on the future of women in the country. How could it not? The entire country has meanwhile been shaken to its core after the brutal rape of a woman in Cumilla.
A gut-wrenching video of the victim is making rounds on social media, angering every sane citizen who has come across it. “It doesn’t even matter which political party is in power; women are always marginalised and treated as spoils of war,” she said, insinuating that there are people who change political allegiances to enjoy power and, at times, quench their animalistic desires. “We need to protect our women and minorities, and I am waiting to see what our government does about it.”
She continued in anguish, “Women are not spoils of war or objects. We need to treat them with respect, and we need to make sure that our inner animals are controlled. Actually, it’s not fair to animals if we compare (the criminals) to them.” When I brought up if women should unite and take to the streets in protest of these actions, Jaya had a different perspective.
“When I protest an injustice as a gender, I am automatically conceding that we are perceived to be ‘weaker.’ We are humans, entities, institutions. I should not have to say it out loud that we deserve respect; it should be a given, especially in this day and age.”
Jaya, who is now across the border to promote “Dear Maa”, is redefining herself with every role she takes on. After all, 2025 has been one of resurgence for her. “While I was proud of my box office hits during ‘Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini’ and ‘Debi’, this Eid has been special. I knew ‘Taandob’ would do well fiancially, but none of us—and I really mean that when I say it—none of us thought that it would go on to be so beloved by the audience.”
At the time of writing, “Utshob” has grossed around a total of Tk 3.5 crores in multiplexes in the country and $93,000 in its first week in North America.
When the conversation turned to why younger actors aren’t consistently stepping up to the plate, the National Award-winning actress shared an interesting observation. “No one really hits their stride in acting before they’re 32,” she said, while audibly smirking over the phone. “The more you age, the more you see life and mature, both as a person and as an artiste. That being said, so many talents, like Shoumya Joyti and Sadia Ayman—who you’ve seen in ‘Utshob’—are doing well.”
“However, it’s important to remember to be consistent. An actress like Meryl Streep can come to your screen for the thousandth time, but her work will still feel fresh. A great actor has to reinvent themselves like that if they want to have a serious career.”
A lot is yet to come this year for the superstar, the earliest of which is the July 18 release of Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury’s directorial “Dear Maa”, which claims to ‘reimagine’ motherhood through the lens of adoption as an act of courage, intimacy, and resistance. If Jaya’s track record in 2025 is anything to go by, we are in for another emotional roller-coaster.
erview and photoshoot with The Daily Star, the emerging actress opened up about the long road to her debut and the dreams that guided her throughout.
“I used to watch ‘Lux Superstar’ since I was a little girl,” Puja recalled with a smile. “Back then, I would imagine myself on that stage and tell myself, ‘One day, I’ll be there.'”
Her dream first took shape during the iconic season that crowned Zakia Bari Mamo as the winner, with Azmeri Haque Badhan and Bindu as runners-up. “Interestingly, it was that very season that ignited my passion. Who knew that years later, I would be sharing the screen with Badhan apu! Life really has its beautiful ways of coming full circle.”
Her journey into the spotlight was anything but easy. “I participated in 2018, as that year felt like the right time to step forward, to take a chance on the dream I’d been carrying for so long. I was named the ‘Most Confident’ during my run, and that title meant the world to me,” she shared.
Without any connections in the media industry, Puja had to carve her own path from scratch. “I didn’t have friends or family in the field, nor did I even know how to approach people who could offer me opportunities,” she admitted. “But I believed that with persistence and the right project, the right time would come. ‘Lux Superstar’ became that launching pad — a platform that set me on the right track.” “Esha Murder” not only gave her a strong character to portray but also the platform to truly begin her journey in the world of cinema.
She took music lessons at Kabi Kazi Nazrul Academy for eight years, and her mother has taught her dance since childhood. If she were ever asked what she wanted to become, she would repeatedly respond, “Nothing else but an artiste.”
Puja, who also made a mark as a ramp model, explained why she took her time before stepping into films. “After ‘Lux Superstar’, I was regularly walking in ramp shows and staying active in the fashion scene,” she shared. “During that time, I did receive several offers for acting — but I’ll admit, it was mostly me who turned them down. None of the roles felt right. I was waiting for something that would truly give me the confidence to take that first step into cinema. That said, there was also an invisible barrier — no one had really seen how I acted, so many were hesitant to take a chance on me. And to be honest, our industry still lacks a proper audition system where newcomers like me can prove themselves and get opportunities based on merit.”
The journey to her first film took shape only after a long wait for the right role, one she could truly connect with. “The story behind joining ‘Esha Murder’ still feels like it was destined,” Puja shared. “After years of waiting and not finding a role I felt confident enough to portray, I finally decided to take a break and pursue my Master’s degree abroad. But just then, as if by fate, Sunny bhai approached me with this project. I gave the audition, and fortunately, luck was on my side. I was cast as Esha — a character that has now become my identity to the audience.”
Although they didn’t share much screen time in “Esha Murder”, Puja gradually formed a heartfelt bond with Badhan during the shoot. “Badhan apu’s character in the story enters after Esha is already murdered, so our connection didn’t grow from working in scenes together,” Puja explained. “It actually developed off-screen — on set, and especially during the promotions for the film, we spent time talking and sharing moments.”
She fondly recalled being captivated by Badhan’s performance. “I used to quietly watch her during her scenes, completely mesmerised by her acting. At first, I was really nervous — she’s a senior, someone who’s been to Cannes, and honestly, someone I’ve looked up to since childhood. But she was so warm and welcoming. She made me feel completely at ease, and even praised my performance to Sunny bhai. That meant the world to me.”
Having proved herself with “Esha Murder”, Puja is now eager to take on more diverse roles that allow her to grow as an actor. “I’m open to commercial films that include action or dance,” she said. “But what I truly look for are stories that challenge me and justify my talent. I want to work more frequently now, and my full focus is on films!”
Source Courtesy: Daily Star Online
