Two decades after winning hearts as Dilkhush in the television serial Ronger Manush, Ayesha Salma Mukti still wants to work, but she wonders whether the industry has room for artistes like her.
The actress, who once enjoyed widespread recognition, says good projects are scarce and senior performers are not getting the value they deserve. She is eager to return to the screen, but not at the cost of settling for roles that fail to challenge her.
“I love working, and I have been hungry for good work since the very beginning. I want filmmakers to think of me for their projects. But how many people are doing that now? And how favourable is the current working environment? How are senior artistes being valued? The answer is simple: they are not,” Mukti told TIMES.
Her frustration, however, has not diminished her appetite for acting. She believes she has earned the right to be selective after years of hard work and learning her craft.
“The projects offered to me now do not attract me. That does not mean good work is not being made. But the number of good projects is very small. I did not enter acting overnight. I had to work hard and learn extensively to reach where I am today. I did not train in theatre, but I still had to learn the craft from beginning to end. That is why I cannot associate myself with just any project,” she said.
Mukti began her showbiz career as a model before moving into television dramas and advertisements. She made her big-screen debut with Tumi Acho Hridoye and later starred opposite Shakib Khan in Jor Kore Bhalobasha Hoy Na. But it was her portrayal of Dilkhush in Ronger Manush that brought her widespread recognition.
Success also brought the risk of being typecast. After the serial became popular, Mukti received offers to play similar characters, but she turned them down, choosing to explore unfamiliar roles rather than repeat a winning formula.
For her, being on screen is never an end in itself. She wants her next project to offer audiences something they have not seen from her before.
“I am not interested in working simply for the sake of being on screen. If that were my goal, I could work 25 days a month. I want to return with a story in which audiences have never seen me before. I am waiting for a project that gives me room to express myself, conveys a message to viewers and makes them think about my performance for a long time.”
Her concerns extend to what she sees as the industry’s growing obsession with online views at the expense of learning and artistic development.
“I see very little interest in learning among artistes today. Everyone is chasing views. Views matter, but they cannot measure the value of art or an artiste. They may provide temporary enjoyment, but they cannot keep someone relevant for long,” she said.
Mukti has worked across television and films, attracted attention for her performance in the drama Chhayabibi and maintained interests in modelling and dance.
Despite her lengthy break from regular acting, she remains open to returning, provided the project offers the right creative opportunity.
She has no preference for one platform over another. Whether it is OTT, television or cinema, her priorities remain the same.
“Whether it is an OTT production, a television drama or a film, I will work if I get a good director, a good story and a good character. Otherwise, I am not interested. I am waiting for work that gives me peace of mind.”
For Mukti, the wait is not about stepping away from acting for good. It is about finding work that values her experience, allows her to grow and gives audiences a reason to see her differently.
