Going for the Goal

Photo : Faria Sabnam

My life at school was really boring. My father was a government employee and because of his job my family and I had to move around to different cities and districts. So I had to transfer from one school to another when we used to move. This makes it hard to remember all the names of the schools.  While at school, I did not have many friends. Actually, I did not have any friends at all back then. My mom did not want me to hang out with any one at that time. She was afraid I was going to pick up the district languages. You can say my family was my friends circle. And I used to be a computer geek, so I used to spend a lot of time o that. As a student, I was not that good. I used to bunk studies and classes whenever I got the chance.

I attended Chittagong Cantonment Public College. It was literally the best time of my life. This was the first time I had real friends. We used to hangout, gossip all the time. It was my first taste of freedom!

After college, I got admitted to Eastern University in Dhaka. I am studying English literature there. It is not as much fun as my college days but I try to make the most of it. I am kind of in the middle of balancing between my studies and acting. So I do not have the privilege of hanging out after classes most of the time. But I always take part in the cultural programmes in the university and hang out with my buddies whenever I get the chance.

Since child hood I wanted to work with the media. But my family is conservative and was not willing to let me work in that sector. So I forgot about the whole thing. But one day, a model knocked me on Facebook, asking if I was willing to do a photo shoot. And without thinking too much, I said yes.  My parents did not have any clue about this. So that was my first step towards the media.

After a while I started getting more offers for TVC's and modeling. My first television commercial was for Pran Chanachur. I also did TVC's for Parachute Coconut Oil, Radhuni Gura Moshla etc.

'@18-All Time Dourer Upor' was my first tele-film. Though I was modeling and doing commercials, I always wanted to act. And when I got the offer for '@18' I was on cloud 9. But good things never come that easily. When I told my parents about the offer they were not happy. At first they did not want to let me do the film, which led to a lot of drama and crying. I went on a three day hunger strike for the film and eventually they were on my side as well.

Right now, I am busy with a TVC for Pran Jhal Muri and Eid photo shoots. In addition, if possible, then I might work on a one hour television fiction for Eid but it is not confirmed yet.

My future plan is to first finish my studies and maybe do a little work here and there in the media. I do not see myself working in media for the rest of my life. I want to work in an embassy after my studies. I would also like to be a news presenter which is my mother's wish. So if I have to be in front of the camera in the future, it will be for the news.

For the upcoming models and actors or people who want to work in the media, I have three things to say to them. Be honest, do not be highly ambitious and fix your goals. These things apply not only in the media but also everywhere you work. And you have to love what you do. Your profession is like your child. You create it.