I want to break out of stereotypical roles: Oishee

After nearly a three-year hiatus, “Noor”, starring Arifin Shuvoo and Jannatul Ferdous Oishee, is finally seeing the light of day. The film’s journey began in July 2022 when it was submitted to the censor board, only to be stalled over technical concerns. A revised version later earned approval at the end of that year-but the film remained unreleased. Finally, the project is gearing up for its debut on OTT on this Thursday. The Daily Sun’s Anindita Naheen recently caught up with the film’s female lead, Jannatul Ferdous Oishee, who spoke about “Noor”, her upcoming projects, and more.

‘Noor’ is releasing after three years. What were your expectations and feelings about the film being released on OTT?

The film was made for the big screen, and I had been waiting for that experience. So yes, I’m a little sad. But I’m also trying to look at it positively.

OTT has a huge audience, and if the film reaches more people and receives love, that is what truly matters. After such a long wait, I’m happy that ‘Noor’ is finally releasing.

Could you please share a bit about your character in the film?

My character in ‘Noor’ is a sweet, soft-spoken girl from a small town-someone who feels everything very deeply.

She carries a lot of innocence, but her emotions run strong beneath the surface. Playing her allowed me to explore a quiet kind of strength, one that comes from kindness, vulnerability, and resilience.

The audience likes your chemistry with Arifin Shuvoo in the film’s teaser and song. What’s your comment on that?

This is my third film with Shuvoo bhai. He is a very cooperative artiste, and working with him is always comfortable. I’m happy that audience have liked our chemistry in ‘Noor’ as well. I hope they won’t be disappointed when they watch the full film.

What was your working experience with the film?

The experience was wonderful. Raihan Rafi is an established and trusted director, he can create magic on set. His work is exceptional, and I learned a lot from him. My co-artistes were also great, which made the entire journey even more enjoyable.

We know, you are working with Shakib Khab in the film ‘Soldier’. How did it feel to be cast alongside him?

Shakib Khan is an institution in himself. He is incredibly professional and, as a person, very calm and quiet. Watching the amount of effort he puts into his work is truly inspiring.

He is also very cooperative. Working with him has been a wonderful experience. The shooting of ‘Soldier’ is almost complete.

How do you balance your professional and personal life?

I keep them separate. I believe private life should remain private. I don’t have many friends in the media industry; instead, I prefer spending my free time with family. I don’t use social media too much. I believe in making an impact rather than focusing on the number of followers.

What’s your ultimate dream role?

From the start of my career, I’ve mostly been offered “girl-next-door” roles, many of which felt similar to who I’m in real life. While these characters were easy to relate to, over time the repetition became dull, and I felt I wasn’t being challenged as an actor. Now I want to break out of that stereotype.

I hope directors think beyond the obvious when considering me for a project. I’m eager to explore characters that are completely different from my real personality.

I believe real growth happens outside one’s comfort zone, and I’m ready to show a new side of myself.