Puja Cherry began her journey in showbiz as a child artiste before making her debut as a lead actress in 2018 with ‘Noor Jahaan’. The Bangladesh-India joint production achieved modest commercial success, but it was Poramon 2 that brought her widespread attention.
Directed by Raihan Rafi and produced by Jazz Multimedia, the film became a box office hit and significantly boosted her popularity as a leading actress.
Following her breakthrough, Puja signed multiple projects, many of which performed reasonably well. However, after the 2022 release of ‘Golui’ opposite Shakib Khan, her career reportedly lost momentum. Subsequent films including ‘Jinn’, ‘Lipstick’ and ‘Tagar’ failed to make an impact at the box office.
Alongside professional setbacks, she also faced controversies. Reports suggested tensions with Jazz Multimedia, with speculation linking the situation to her alleged relationship with Shakib Khan. She later spent a long period in the US.
However, Puja has repeatedly dismissed the rumours, stating in interviews, “Shakib Bhai is the superstar hero of the industry. The matter of my love relationship with him is just a rumour. I do not understand why people are spreading this.”
Her Eid release ‘Domm’, starring opposite Afran Nisho and directed by Redwan Rony, also drew mixed responses. While Nisho’s performance was widely praised, critics felt Puja “could not do justice to her character”.
Despite this, the film was declared a “hit” largely due to Nisho’s strong fan following.
Now, Puja is set to return with ‘Nakfuler Kabbo’, releasing this Eid-ul-Azha under Bengal Multimedia. Directed by Alok Hasan and written by Ferrari Farhad, the film explores a love-and-separation narrative, with Ador Azad playing the male lead.
The cast also includes Ali Raj, Kazi Kaniz, Lutfor Rahman George, Shikha Mou and Gazi Rakayet, among others. The film features three songs.
A poster released on Saturday shows Puja prominently in focus, with Ador Azad appearing in a corner. Her character is depicted with a sense of emotional longing, reflecting the film’s theme of separation.
Following its online release, the poster received positive reactions from audiences and fans, though critics have questioned whether Puja can reclaim her earlier standing in the industry. The answer, many say, will only be clear after the film’s Eid release.
Puja, however, remains focused on the project. She said, “The story of this film is very strong. Alok Hasan has made it very well. Bengal Multimedia is a strong production house. I believe they will do full justice in promoting it. This is a film the audience will enjoy.”
