Sunerah Binte Kamal did not have to wait long to establish herself after entering the film industry.
She made headlines by winning the National Film Award for her debut film, and now the actress is preparing to step onto an even bigger international stage.
Her film The Difficult Bride, directed by Rubaiyat Hossain, has been selected for the competition section of the prestigious Venice International Film Festival.
The selection marks the first time a Bangladeshi film has entered the competition section of the Venice festival.
Naturally, Sunerah is thrilled by the achievement and will travel to Venice with the film’s team to attend the festival.
“This is really wonderful news. It is a moment of great happiness for everyone involved with the film, and for Bangladeshi cinema as well. I am also going to the Venice Film Festival,” the actress said.
Sunerah is also optimistic about The Difficult Bride. She believes the film has turned out well and described her experience of working on it as deeply rewarding.
She praised director Rubaiyat Hossain and the entire team for their work.
For Sunerah, the Venice trip is not merely a career milestone but also a valuable learning opportunity.
She believes interacting with filmmakers, actors and other cinema professionals from different countries at the festival will expose her to new ideas and possibilities.
Her experience of working with Rubaiyat has also been positive.
Sunerah said the director continued to stay in touch with her even after filming wrapped, with the two speaking every week. She appreciated the filmmaker’s sincerity and commitment.
Asked what it takes to make a good film, Sunerah said, “A good story, a good team, good acting and a good director—when everything comes together, that is when a film becomes good and beautiful. This film has all of those elements.”
This is not Sunerah’s first experience at an international film festival. She previously attended an international festival in South Korea with the film Moshari.
However, representing Bangladesh with a film in the competition section of a globally renowned festival like Venice is a particularly significant achievement for her.
Sunerah wants to work more regularly in films in the future, but she intends to prioritise quality over quantity.
“I want to make films, but I want to make good films. I want to be part of good work,” she said.
She has already been receiving offers for new projects. However, the actress said she will not accept a film simply because an offer comes her way.
She will consider joining a project only when she likes its story and character.
Alongside films, Sunerah remains busy with television dramas. She is currently working on several projects and plans to return to her drama commitments after the Venice festival.
Her recently completed serial Eta Amaderi Golpo also earned her considerable praise.
She played the character Sayra, who became so popular that many viewers now address Sunerah by the character’s name in real life.
“I received a tremendous response to the drama. Especially wherever I go, people call me Sayra. It feels good. That is the reward for doing good work,” she said.
With acclaim for her popular television character on one hand and the opportunity to represent Bangladeshi cinema on an international stage on the other, Sunerah Binte Kamal is going through an important phase of her career.
Her journey to Venice with The Difficult Bride could mark the beginning of new opportunities for the actress—and audiences will be watching closely.
