The perfectly woven, purple Jamdani in heritage motifs; a swirly white gown; a faded, blue jeans paired with a checkered shirt — all prove why she has been the dream girl of our nation for over three decades. We got a chance to speak to Sadia Islam Mou while she was prepping for an exclusive photoshoot for Star Lifestyle.

For starters, she is an A-lister supermodel of Bangladesh, who returns with full force to the public eye, as beautiful as ever. 

Photo: Adnan Rahman

As far as her professional trajectory goes, Mou has been in the limelight mostly during the '90s, especially for her modelling career. With her poise and charm, she was able to capture the hearts of millions and dominate the television screens of Bangladesh for over two decades. However, soon afterwards, to the utmost disappointment of her fans, she reduced her on-screen appearances to concentrate more on the home front, becoming a full-time mother. 

Needless to say, the audience waited for her return with bated breath. They wanted to see their favourite celebrity make a reappearance on the screens, even if it meant taking up fewer roles than before.  

However, Sadia Islam Mou refutes that she never left her fans.

Photo: Adnan Rahman

"It's actually not true," she smiled. "It's only presumed that I worked more during the '90s because there was only a single TV channel back then, and the advertisements were aired throughout the year. People mistook this as working all year long! In reality, it was the same advertisement, the same jingle, playing over and over again," said Mou. 

She added, "I am still the same as before. I choose my acting/modelling projects selectively and only work when the scripts seem enticing enough. I am ready to captivate my audiences as before, but as I said, the character needs to be interesting, fulfilling, and good fit for my personality and appeal."

When the entire world is buzzing on social media, Sadia Islam Mou's presence seems to be wanting in the digital world. 

"This is true to a certain extent. While I do not have anything against social media and people promoting their work on it, I like keeping my personal world separate from all the chaos. I also believe that there should be a line drawn between our private and professional lives. This helps to maintain sanity and keep our personal lives protected."

Even though one might say that she has taken a step back from the entertainment industry, one thing remains the same — her impeccable sense of fashion.

"Clothes need to feel comfortable; it really doesn't matter what you wear. One needs to own their look to feel complete and look their best," Mou believes. "If you are scantily dressed and feeling uncomfortable, it's definitely the wrong look for you. The same goes for the sari. If you are not comfortable wearing it, then wear something else that suits your personality – it may be a kurti or maybe even a top with plain jeans."

Photo: Adnan Rahman

She went on to say, "Wear what suits you, know what looks good on you and heads will turn automatically. You don't have to try too hard — It will only show in your overall appearance." 

We could not agree more with the style guru, who has owned each and every look until now. Sadia Islam Mou continues to mesmerise everyone around her, whenever and wherever she makes an appearance.

Our brief conversation with the famed model was seemingly at an end, but before we wrapped up, she had a few words to aspirants following her path. "Always remember that there are no shortcuts in life. I wish there was a golden solution for every problem, but there isn't. It's just plain hard work and pure dedication that will help to get to your preferred destinations. Keep on working hard, and you will get there soon."

Model: Sadia Islam Mou

Fashion Direction & Styling: Mahmudul Hasan Mukul

Wardrobe: MEHER by Samina Sara

Makeup: Sumon Rahat

Hair: Shuwle Akhtar

Ideation: Sonia Yeasmin Isha