The audience inspires me to push my boundaries every time: Nabila

Model, actress and presenter Masuma Rahman Nabila has carved a unique place in Bangladesh's entertainment industry by carefully selecting projects that showcase her versatility. From her acclaimed debut in ‘‘Aynabaji’’ to memorable performances in ‘‘Toofan’’ and her latest film ‘‘Banalata Sen’’, she has consistently embraced diverse characters instead of following conventional paths. Alongside acting, Nabila continues to make her mark as a presenter with quality television shows. In a conversation with the Daily Sun, she speaks about choosing scripts, preparing for challenging roles, balancing acting and hosting, and the changes she hopes to see in the industry.

Your films have all been distinctly different. What do you consider most important when choosing a film?

The first thing I look at is the story and the director. For me, these two elements go hand in hand because even the strongest story needs the right director to bring it to life on screen. Over time, I’ve also started paying close attention to the production house. A film deserves to reach its audience properly, so I value producers who know how to market, promote and release a project effectively. A good promotional strategy often determines how well a film connects with viewers.

How do you prepare yourself for a role?

To be honest, I still consider myself an amateur when it comes to acting. I always say I'm a director-dependent artiste because I rely heavily on the director's vision. My first priority is understanding exactly what the director wants from the character. For Banalata Sen, we rehearsed extensively for almost three months. Those rehearsals helped me understand the emotional journey of the character and prepared me mentally before facing the camera.

What are you currently busy with?

At the moment, I'm hosting a new talk show titled Talk of the Capital, and I'm really enjoying the experience. The audience response has been very encouraging, which motivates me even more. Another road-trip-based show hosted by me is also in the pipeline.
Besides presenting, I'm in discussions about several film and OTT projects. However, I remain very selective. Whether it's acting or presenting, I prefer projects that leave an impression and spark conversations among audiences. Sometimes I work on campaigns as part of my commitments as a brand ambassador, but otherwise I focus on quality over quantity. That's one reason why I don't appear in too many hosting projects.

What life lesson has been most valuable in your acting career?

I believe acting becomes stronger when a person has a deeper understanding of life. The more experiences you gather, the easier it becomes to relate to different emotions and characters. That's why we often see many actors delivering their finest performances later in their careers. Emotional maturity allows an actor to portray a character with greater authenticity and honesty.

What inspires you the most at this stage of your career?

The audience is my greatest inspiration. Their appreciation encourages me to keep improving and discovering my own potential. I want to challenge myself with more layered and complex characters in the future. As a presenter, I also hope to create shows that have an impact and remain in people's minds even after they've watched them.

Have you ever turned down a project that you later regretted?

Not really. In fact, the opposite has happened more often. There was one project I had to decline because I was pregnant. It eventually received a wonderful response from audiences, and the actress who played the role did an excellent job. Instead of regretting it, I genuinely appreciated her performance and was happy the project turned out so well.

As a female artiste, what changes would you like to see in the industry?

I would like to see more women-centric stories being made. We have many talented female performers who deserve stronger and more meaningful roles. Another issue that deserves attention is workplace hygiene. During outdoor shoots, proper washroom and changing room facilities are often unavailable. It's not just actresses; many women work behind the scenes as well. Ensuring clean, safe and hygienic facilities for female professionals should be a basic standard across the industry.

Do you have any plans to work in production, directing or any field outside acting?

Not at the moment. I think directing is an incredibly demanding profession and requires a completely different mindset. Right now, my passion lies in acting and presenting, and I want to continue doing both for as long as I'm healthy and able to perform. My focus is on exploring better stories and becoming a better actor with every project.