Sadia Ayman, one of the most popular actresses of this generation, made her silver-screen debut with Giasuddin Selim’s film Kajolrekha. Her stellar performance in Utshob, directed by Tanim Noor and released during the last Eid-ul-Azha, also earned significant praise from audiences. Now, she is preparing to surprise viewers yet again with something new.

A different kind of story

Recently, Sadia has been busy with shooting for a web film. She shared, “I’ve just finished working on a web film for OTT platform Chorki. I cannot reveal much yet. That’s because the team has not permitted us to share details. So I cannot disclose the title or release date right now.”

However, she offered a glimpse into the nature of the project. “All I can say is that it’s a unique story—unlike anything I’ve done so far. In my view, the entire narrative revolves around a theme that has never been explored in this way in Bangladesh. It’s a kind of psychological story, at least I’ve never seen one before. When people find out what the story is about, many will be surprised — ‘Can a film really be made about this?’ The film carries a beautiful message. The ending will especially touch everyone. I also have a personal emotional connection to the project. Overall, it has turned out really well,” Sadia added.

Busy with dramas and commercials

Sadia is not limiting herself to OTT films. “I just finished shooting a drama with Yash Rohan last month,” she said. “I’m also working on several commercials. Moreover, discussions are ongoing for more,” she further said.

Election season’s impact on work

With the national election two months away, has the shooting felt any impact? According to Sadia, “Work is going on normally at the moment. The pace may slow down a bit closer to Election Day. However, many brands are continuing their shoots as preparation for various events, including the upcoming Valentine’s Day and Eid. My co-artists are also shooting regularly. So far, everything is fine.”

Moving with films, drama

Sadia does not believe in restricting herself to a single medium. “I started with advertising, then acted in films. Later, I moved to OTT projects and eventually became regular in dramas. I’ve also worked in series on various OTT platforms. From the beginning, I’ve tried to work across all mediums. I am an actress, and my job is to act. So, I don’t want to confine myself to one format. I want to grow further in cinema. Every artist wants to work on the big screen. I also want to work with good directors and strong scripts so that I can offer something fresh to viewers,” she said.

New film offers

Following the success of Utshob, she has received several new film offers. “I received quite a few scripts after Utshob. I didn’t move forward with two or three because either the story didn’t appeal to me or I wasn’t confident about the team. Some projects are in the pipeline, and I’m in talks for two or three films. But I don’t want to do a film unless the character is strong. In Kajolrekha and Utshob, my characters had a strong presence and meaningful impact on the story. That’s the kind of role I want to take on. There is no limitation that I must always play the heroine,” she explained.

Choosing characters with impact

Sadia prioritises the weight of a character within the story. She stated, “For me, the impact of the character matters the most—how strong it is, its rise and fall, the kind of family it comes from, and its psychological or philosophical dimensions. I study the character’s arc. Of course, I consider the story, the director, and everything else during selecting the story. Only when all of these align do I commit to a project.”

Early Work vs the Present

According to Sadia, “From the start until now, the nature of my work hasn’t fundamentally changed. Every day I try to learn something new. Day by day, I’m trying to improve in my work. I consider myself very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such talented directors. I feel my overall journey is moving in a positive direction.”

Preserving Variety in Acting

Sadia believes in taking breaks between projects. Without breaks, she says, it becomes difficult to reflect deeply on stories or characters. She commented, “You can’t bring major changes to romantic stories — the expressions of love remain the same. But when you take breaks, you can distinctly present each character. You get time to think, to research. That allows a project to become unique. If you have to shoot continuously, creating variation becomes much difficult. So whenever I feel the need for a break, I take one. I work on one project a month. If I don’t find a good script, I don’t take it. If a single good project touches the audience’s heart, it is enough for me.”

Life Beyond Acting

Outside of acting, Sadia prioritises her personal life too. “I love spending precious time with my family. I have three cats — two are my children and the other is my child’s child,” she joked. “I spend time with them. I enjoy cooking. I take care of the plants on my balcony. I cook using the chilies and spinach I grow there. I love planting trees. In my free time, I listen to music, watch films, write, and sometimes even write poetry. I also go out with friends. That’s how my days go,” she shared.

Utshob and Its Recognition

Sadia got widespread praise for her performance in Utshob. She further shared her feelings, “I received a lot of appreciation for Utshob. Many respected artists from the industry personally phoned me with their good wishes. Their love is a blessing for me. When the director first shared the story with us, we immediately realised that films like this are rarely made. That’s why we agreed to work on Utshob. It was a chance to offer something different to the audience. I didn’t expect such a huge response. But, the audience’s reaction has truly been overwhelming.”

Future Plans

Sadia maintains a balance between her career and personal life. Speaking about her plans, she said, “I want to work on good stories. I also want to study film in the future. Alongside acting, I hope to make a positive contribution to the industry as well. I like to give time to my family outside of work. I’m a very family-oriented person. My family and cats are extremely important to me. I want to spend time with them. I want to move forward while balancing my career, my family, and my studies.”