Straight from the heart: Joya Ahsan

Joya Ahsan in a scene from her debut film Doob Shatar. Photo: Photo: Shehzad Chowdhury

The Daily Star had the good fortune of interviewing model turned TV actress Joya Ahsan recently. She shared her views on her favourite directors and her plans for the Eid. The readers will be happy to know that they might expect to watch their favourite actress on TV this Eid. Below are excerpts from the conversation.
Her directors:
I have had the opportunity to work with some of the most artistic and dedicated directors of the industry. Among my favourites are Nurul Alam Atiq, Animesh Aich, Mezbaur Rahman and Matia Banu Suku. Nurul Alam Atiq is one director I can rely on completely, with blind faith. I do not really have words to describe him; he is an “inspiration”. It must be the wish of every artiste to work with him. Recently, I have worked with him in a digital movie, Doob Shatar.
With Animesh Aich I have done few of my best works. He knows best how to break down an artiste and mould him/ her into the character required by the script. It is always a lively experience working with him. Mezbaur Rahman differentiates himself from all my other directors in context to “practicality”. His work is usually slightly offbeat, and like I tell him, “it is like reading poetry.” Coffee House is one of my ventures with him, and more recently Smita, Shada Jama O Eishob, which is set to be telecast this Eid.
When it comes to female directors, my personal favourite is Matia Banu Suku. I have worked with her in To- let, which was a significant character of my professional career. We share very good understanding, excellent comfort level at work and she is more of a friend to me than a director. I have also worked with other very successful female directors such as Chayanika Choudhury and Afsana Mimi.
Giasuddin Selim, Tauqir Ahmed, Mostafa Sarwar Faruki, Amitabh Reza are all large- scale directors of our industry, and it was a great experience working with them. Among new directors, I have acted in works of Ashutosh Sumon and in Kamrul Hassan's Projapoti Kaal, which is one of my favourite works so far. I always welcome working with upcoming directors; they are all talented and very comfortable to work with.
Eid plans:
Eid is somewhat the same each year, but in my family, Ramadan is a very important month. It is nice to be with your family and loved ones during this month, which is why I try not to be engaged in work or shooting schedule. As result, it is seen that I do not get to work on TV for Eid. However, I have already finished working for a few plays planned to be aired on Eid. Among them is a play directed by Tauqir Ahmed and written by Bipasha Hayat. I am eagerly looking forward to it because it is always a pleasure working with them. Their work is very down- to- earth, which has the power to attract the audience to a close proximity of reality. Also, coming up is Mezbaur Rahman's play I mentioned earlier, and another play by Ashrafi Mithu.
A message to the readers:
I hope my audience appreciates and enjoys my upcoming works, because it is after all for them and their appraisal that we work and survive in our professions. I wish them all the best for Eid!