Actress and cultural activist Kazi Nawshaba Ahmed has combined theatre with social responsibility by organising a special fundraising performance to support the cancer treatment of a fellow performer’s mother.
The stage play Sojon Badiar Ghat was performed at Bangabandhu Auditorium in Gazipur on 25 July.
Cultural activist Camellia Sharmin took to the stage to raise funds for her mother’s cancer treatment.
The initiative was organised by Together We Can, a platform founded by Nawshaba in 2018 to promote social change through cultural activities.
Calling it a unique experience, Nawshaba said the organisation decided to arrange music and theatre performances to raise awareness about cancer while collecting emergency funds for Camellia’s family.
“Camellia Sharmin is one of our regular colleagues and theatre workers. We all came together to support her mother’s fight against cancer,” she said.
Reflecting on the spirit of theatre, Nawshaba added, “We live in a time when people are often busy pointing out each other’s faults. Theatre has taught me to stand beside others and never leave anyone alone during difficult times.”
Beyond acting, Nawshaba continues to promote environmental awareness through her stage productions.
She said her plays often highlight issues such as reducing plastic use and planting trees.
“We survive because of nature. It is our responsibility to protect it,” she said, adding that she carries saplings to cultural events through her organisation to inspire young people.
Neem, bael and flowering plants are among the trees she distributes.
Nawshaba also revealed that she has completed her first feature film, Someshwari, and is currently writing the screenplay for another project.
She hopes to direct films regularly but said finding producers remains the biggest challenge.
“I want to share my ideas with audiences. If I find producers, I would like to make films consistently,” she said.
The actress also plans to pursue music more seriously.
Although she modestly described her singing voice as average, she said theatre had encouraged her to explore different forms of artistic expression.
“I’ve always enjoyed humming songs. Theatre teaches you a bit of everything, so I want to move forward with music as well,” she said.
Nawshaba has also directed five stage productions, including Tribeni and Mukti Aloy Aloy.
While she continues to receive regular offers for theatre, she admitted she misses working in front of the camera.
“I miss the lights, the camera and the shooting floor. I don’t regret not being called, but I do feel the pain of not acting. I’m like a chatak bird, always waiting for good roles,” she said.
Among her recent performances, Nawshaba highlighted Antara from Nuhash Humayun’s 2 Sho on Chorki, which she believes gave her career a fresh start.
She also named the upcoming short film Thanda Gosht 2.0, based on Saadat Hasan Manto’s story and directed by Shah Newaz Khan and Sumaiya Arju, as one of her favourite recent projects.
Looking ahead, Nawshaba hopes to continue balancing theatre, films and television while expanding her organisation’s cultural activities across the country.
