For Shahnaz Sumi, love does not have a place in her life plan. The actress, who has earned praise for her performances since the beginning of her career, believes family is everything. As she balances acting with her new career in healthcare, Sumi says she has no plans for romance or marriage.
“I do not believe in love. Everything is about family. Nothing beyond that is real,” she said.
Sumi recently joined BRAC’s health programme, fulfilling a dream she had nurtured for years. She said she always wanted to work in the healthcare sector because of her interest in health and well-being.
“I am very health-conscious. I always wanted to work in this sector. So, when I got the chance, I grabbed it. I am enjoying the job quite a lot at the moment,” she said.
However, Sumi made it clear that her new profession does not mean she is leaving acting. Although she started her new career in January, she plans to continue working in films and other projects.
She hopes to take on one or two quality projects every year, as she believes meaningful work matters more than the number of projects.
“I believe in quality over quantity. I cannot deceive the audience,” she said.
Sumi said she chooses roles only when she feels connected to the character. She prefers waiting for strong stories rather than working just for the sake of appearing on screen.
She believes her healthcare job will also enrich her acting by helping her understand life and people better. Meeting different people and travelling to new places, she said, help her portray characters more deeply.
The actress credits directors Salahuddin Lavlu and Giasuddin Selim for shaping her acting journey, describing her experiences with them as an “institute”. She believes honesty in every character is the most important part of acting.
Sumi also explained why she became selective about television dramas after completing her Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination. She began her film journey after auditioning for ‘Paap Punno’.
At the time, she thought regular television appearances could affect her film career, as audiences might not go to theatres to watch her movies. Later, her views changed. She also said she did not often receive opportunities for the kind of dramas she wanted.
“I do not want to work just for the sake of working. If I do that, it would be unfair to the audience,” she said.
Comfortable across television, films and OTT platforms, Sumi gives special importance to web series because they allow stories to be explored on a larger scale. She believes OTT content also carries responsibility.
“Being bold does not mean being open. Real courage is showing something through acting that many people cannot say themselves,” she said.
Talking about her works ‘Mobaroknama’ and ‘Buker Modhye Agun’, Sumi said delivering meaningful messages to audiences remains her priority.
After ‘Buker Modhye Agun’, many viewers compared her with Shabnur, calling her the Shabnur of the new generation. Sumi said the comparison makes her happy. She considers Shabnur and Madhuri Dixit among her biggest inspirations and hopes to portray Shabnur in a biopic someday. She also dreams of playing a visually impaired character.
Despite her achievements, Sumi considers herself a learner. She follows advice from Salahuddin Lavlu: “The day you understand that your acting is happening, from that day your acting will stop.”
In her personal life, Sumi said she has never compromised despite difficult experiences in her career. She does not believe in the culture of syndicates and continues to move forward with the support of her family and her own confidence.
Away from work, she paints, practises dance and reads books. For now, Sumi wants to focus on her career, acting and the new experiences shaping her life.
