Dhaka's cinema scene has witnessed the emergence of several accomplished actors over the years, and Nipun Akter, a prominent actress, is no exception. She has won National Film Awards multiple times for her outstanding performances . Recently, Nipun starrer "Sujon Majhi" was released, which generated quite a buzz in the media. She has also been featured in the newly-released web-film, "Opolap".

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star, Nipun shared her thoughts on the current state of Bangladeshi cinema, her recent film, and her role as the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association.

Photo: Collected

Your film 'Sujon Majhi' was recently released. Can you tell us more about it?

"Sujon Majhi", directed by Delwar Jahan Jhantu, is a social drama. A few days ago, I went to a cinema hall in the capital to observe the audience's reaction. I noticed that there is a growing trend of people going to the theatres to watch movies. It's heartening to see that.

After an eight-year hiatus, Ferdous and I are back on the big screen together. We shot the film last year, and the story is quite engaging. There is an audience for this type of cinema.

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Many people claim that Dhaka's cinema industry is thriving. Do you agree?

I wholeheartedly agree. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was concern that the film industry would suffer, especially with cinema halls being closed. However, reality proved otherwise. The film industry is flourishing. People are going to the cinemas with their families, and the film business is doing well. 

The challenges that the cinema industry faced have been overcome, and it's thriving now. In the past 16 years, I haven't seen the cinema business as robust as it is today. Even though millions have been invested in making films, the industry continues to prosper. 

What more can be done to further improve the cinema industry?

If more cinemas are produced, theatres are renovated, and the film censorship process is streamlined, it will undoubtedly be a game-changer for the industry. Cinemas need to be renovated and upgraded. Bangladesh's film industry has made a resurgence, and the situation will further improve if there are at least 400 cinema halls.

Photo: Collected

You're the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association. Could you tell us about your role and the association's activities?

I have been involved in many activities for the Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association. We stand by artistes in their times of need, provide assistance, and support them. Last year, we visited Sylhet during the Covid-19 pandemic and assisted the needy. We have responsibilities, and we take them seriously.

We have also emphasised the importance of revitalising the film industry. Our first focus is to make it vibrant again. We have made significant progress in that regard. Now, our attention is on publicising the cinema industry, irrespective of whose film it is.

Could you tell us more about your latest web-film 'Opolap'?

"Opolap" has received exceptional feedback for a web-film. It's a family thriller with a great team, including Imtiaz Barshan. The story is compelling. The production quality and budget were impressive as well.