For two decades, Sadia Jahan Prova has charmed audiences on the small screen. Now, for the first time, she is stepping onto the silver screen, appearing simultaneously in two government-funded films. One is adapted from a Rabindranath Tagore short story, while the other comes from a new generation filmmaker. After a long wait, this marks a fresh chapter in her career.
‘Dui Poishar Manush’, directed by Jhumur Asma Jui and ‘Dena Pawna’, directed by Sadeq Siddiqui, both feature Prova in pivotal roles. She has already completed the first lot of shooting for both films. Though weather delays have pushed back the second phase, she says she is simply happy to be acting.
“I’m getting the full heroine experience,” Prova laughed. “Someone’s holding an umbrella for me, someone’s cutting coconuts. Drama or ad sets are never this grand. Here, everyone takes special care. The respect I’ve received from the filmmakers has truly overwhelmed me.”
In Dena Pawna, she plays the daughter of a poor family, subjected to relentless mental torture from her in-laws over dowry. In Dui Poishar Manush, she portrays the daughter of a schoolteacher, who, despite studying law, cannot escape the shadows of hardship. Both roles carry strong social resonance.
Film offers had come her way before, but she had declined partly because her family disapproved and partly because she was too young to decide for herself. Later, when she was ready, she found the right stories lacking.
“At one point, producers showed interest, but I couldn’t take the chance,” she reflected. “Now I finally can. Let’s see where it goes,” the actress said with hope.
Prova’s rise to fame began in 2005 with a Meril Beauty Soap ad that made her an overnight sensation. Since then, she has appeared in countless dramas, telefilms and commercials.
“I can’t carry stardom,” she admitted. “That’s both a failure and a success. But I never stopped. I learned from mistakes and kept moving forward. This industry has given me so much. I’ll remain grateful forever.”
Beyond acting, Prova is also a corporate professional, currently serving as brand director at an electrical company. “Many doubted if I could handle the job. But I love this life. My colleagues even call me a superwoman,” she said with a smile.
Her career, however, has not been without scars. Content from her personal life was once misused and circulated online. “Before, I would cry. Now I think differently. If we had proper legal protections, I could have gone to court. Aishwarya Rai did it in India and won. Why can’t it happen here?”
These days, Prova appears less frequently in dramas. Repetitive roles and stories no longer excite her. Instead, she has her eyes set on OTT and the silver screen. “I aspire to do good work in these two mediums,” she said.
From her journey of television to film, Prova has remained a familiar name for 20 years. Her move to cinema is not just a personal milestone, but also a chance to give audiences a new experience.
How far she can go remains to be seen, but her second journey has already begun; this time on the big screen.
