Hasin Roushan Jahan first came to the limelight in 2011 through the Veet-Channel i Top Model contest. Immediately after becoming a model, and appearing in TVCs, she segued into acting in television dramas. Her first drama was “Amader Choto Nodi”, alongside Nobel. She got married in July 2012, and was also the brand ambassador of Duronto Rajshahi the same year.

How did you start your journey into the world of glamour?
Well it was six years back, during my 2nd year at Dhaka University where I was studying history. My friends at university encouraged me to try doing a photo shoot for a magazine, since I always took an interest in fashion. At the time I lied to my parents and took money from them, I think it was about 5,000 taka and with that I bought a lot of dresses. Back then it was quite a lot and I had no idea what to wear for a photoshoot! After the photoshoot, I told everyone at university that I'll appear in the magazine. On the 1st of March I got up early, I was so excited that I skipped class that day just to get a copy of the magazine at Nilkhet. I was looking over the magazine trying to find my photos but I couldn't find anything, I frantically kept searching until I found something. They were photos of my lips, four or five photos for a lipstick advertisement, but none of them showed my face. I was shocked! When I got back to the hall I was in tears and decided not to step into modeling again.

How did you come to win the Veet Channel i top model contest?
After I completed my graduation, my older sister, who has always been supportive of me, and my best friend Nishu registered me in Veet's modeling competition without me knowing. I found out later when I got call for an audition at Channel i. My sister dragged me there and stayed with me till I reached the Top 20. My parents still didn't know, three days later they announced the day of training camp which lasted for 3 months. Of course I had to tell my parents then, and when I did my mother didn't speak to me for a while. While I was at the camp, my focus was on learning – I wanted to be well groomed. At the finale, when the judges called my name as the winner, I couldn't believe it, and it took for someone else to repeat my name until I realized that I had won! I let out a scream; I had never imagined that I would win.

After facing so how many obstacles in your career, how risky do you find the media to be?
Everything that is either good or bad depends on your own well being. Regardless of the problems you face, as long as you keep a positive attitude everything will be fine, but if you feel negative about yourself everything else will crumble. You need to have that certain maturity and personality to succeed in this line of work. Every step you take there's always a risk but I've always tried to take the smart and right way.

Why do you think some families still have a negative notion towards beauty contests? What are their reasons?
There are always good and bad points, I mean, every sector does. Once in the media, people become interested in you and everyone is always super curious. Whether a celebrity has fights with their spouses, trouble with their family or children thus parents assume the worst and pay little attention to the problems outside of the media. That is why people despise the media since there is so much exposure. My family is so conservative that they could never have imagined their child working in this sector. For example, my mother insists that I should try to become a news anchor or presenter. I told her that I can't go backwards now I've already gone ahead and I'm comfortable in my position as an actor.

Being part of the industry, can you or others like you help break this negative notion and encourage others to join?
As I have said before in other interviews, I do the best I can from my side. I hope that in 10-15 years I can be a positive role model. Even now some seniors are impressed with the work that I've done and this helps bring a positive attitude.

There are models who begin to act but do not take acting seriously? Why do you think that is?
After winning Veet & Channel i's model competition I didn't go straight into modeling. I did however appear in a few ads and then went  into acting. Modelling and acting are different but have some similarities, for one of them you have prepare everything in a short amount of time for the other you get a bit more.  The major problem in our country is that everyone wants to do everything. I think those who do modeling should stay with modeling and actors should concentrate on acting.
 

Catch the uncut and unabridged version of Showbiz's Cover Interview and more on Radio Shadhin 92.4 FM Every Saturday, 11 PM onwards.

Interviewed by Rafi Hossain and Narrated by Isar Kabir