Acclaimed theatre director and founder of Dhaka University’s Department of Theatre and Music, Syed Jamil Ahmed, established Spardha Independent Collective with just five members in September 2018. Among them is the notable Mohsina Akhter. A direct student of Syed Jamil Ahmed, she is simultaneously a director, performer, and costume designer. This May, she made her big-screen debut with the release of “Jaya aar Sharmin”. However, she prefers not to differentiate between mediums of storytelling. As she explains, “People who know how to swim can swim in any body of water.”

2025 continues to be a busy year for Jaya Ahsan, with multiple releases across Bangladesh and West Bengal. Following the theatrical release of “Putulnacher Itikatha” in August, fans who missed “Jaya Aar Sharmin” in cinemas will soon get another chance to watch it on OTT.

As Jaya Ahsan and Mohsina Akhter, the two leads of the film, take sips of black coffee and rong cha respectively at The Daily Star’s studio, the excitement levels vary among the illustrious mega-star and respected theatre practitioner.

The journey of creating “Jaya Aar Sharmin” began five years ago, when the world came to a sudden halt. Born amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, this heartfelt, small-scale production is now ready for its big-screen debut in multiplexes across the country on May 16.