The camera has found Rumana Malik Munmun again, but not in the way many fans had hoped.
After years away from the spotlight, the Lux star has returned as the presenter of Ispahani Mirzapur Presents Legend and Legacy. Her comeback has reignited speculation about an acting return.
Yet Munmun is in no hurry. Instead, she is looking even further ahead, quietly nurturing ambitions of directing and producing when the time is right.
For now, she is content with hosting the programme during a short break from her job in Canada.
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, Munmun said she would only consider acting again if the right opportunity came along.
“If I find a good story, a strong screenplay and a meaningful character, I will certainly consider returning to acting in the future.” Until then, she says, it is simply a case of “let’s see”.
Her journey began after the 2006 Lux-Channel i Superstar competition, when director Toukir Ahmed cast her as Muna in Daruchini Dwip, one of the proudest achievements of her career.
She still fondly remembers the long shooting schedule on St Martin’s Island. The youthful excitement, the warmth of her co-stars and the spirit of working together continue to hold a special place in her heart.
Munmun credits Tauquir Ahmed for teaching her the discipline of film acting, from understanding the language of the camera to mastering the finer details of dubbing. She believes those lessons shaped her confidence as an actress.
Although she now lives in Canada, her love for Bangladeshi cinema has never faded. Whenever she gets the chance, she watches Bangladeshi films in Canadian cinemas, describing it as a deeply emotional way of staying connected to her homeland.
She believes Bangladeshi cinema has changed remarkably over the past two decades. In her view, many local productions are now capable of competing internationally, while a new generation of filmmakers is bringing fresh storytelling and cinematic language to the industry.
At the same time, she is concerned by the disappearance of single-screen cinemas. While welcoming the rise of multiplexes, she believes higher ticket prices should not prevent ordinary and rural audiences from enjoying films.
Munmun also emphasised that acting demands much more than memorising dialogue. Understanding a character’s psychology, lifestyle and background, she said, is essential to making any performance believable.
Her ambitions, however, extend beyond acting.
“I am interested in both directing and producing, but neither is something to rush,” she said. “As a producer, you need financial strength as well as the audience’s trust.
Directing is not just about desire. It requires years of preparation, experience and a clear creative vision. When I feel I am fully prepared to bring my ideas to the screen, perhaps then I will step into those roles.”
Despite her busy and fast-paced life in Canada, Munmun admits that Bangladesh remains what she misses most.
