Sumaiya Shimu has spent two decades winning the hearts of audiences. She began her career with serials such as “Lolita”, aired on Ekushey TV, and “Swapnochura”, aired on Banglavision. Despite continued demand from viewers, she stepped away from acting for nearly five years, working only occasionally on OTT project directed by Nuhash Humayun. Now, she is set to return to television with Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Raz's upcoming serial “Fire Ashar Golpo”.
Speaking to The Daily Star about her comeback, Shimu reflected candidly on the years she spent away from the screen. "In between, I became a mother. My twins will soon turn three. I scaled back my acting because of motherhood and personal reasons. Acting is the place I love most. I gave those in-between years to myself, my family and my children."
In “Fire Ashar Golpo”, Shimu plays the character of Rokaiya. Asked why this particular drama marked her return, she said, "The story of this drama is different. I liked the story, and the character is compelling too. Taking everything together, it felt like the right project to return with."
Beyond her acting and family life, Shimu spent part of her time away from the screen completing a PhD. She studied at Jahangirnagar University, where she also earned her doctorate. "Even though I was not acting for several years, I watched a great deal of other people's work. Some of them were excellent," she said.
Asked what she has heard most often from audiences and loved ones in recent years, Shimu shared, "Wherever I have gone, people have asked me why I am not more regular in front of the camera. I hear it wherever I travel in the country, and abroad it is the same question: why do I act so little? They tell me how much they enjoyed seeing me in various dramas."
She added, "It makes me happy that people have remembered me. I have realised that audiences have not forgotten me, that they love my work. The strength of that love is immense."
Shimu admitted that her return brings both excitement and a touch of nervousness. "I am delighted to be returning to drama. I want to live up to the expectations and hopes audiences have of me."
About continuing her work, she said that it is not certain yet. "Let the work on this drama finish first, let it air, and then it will depend a great deal on how audiences respond."
Shimu also shared another question she is frequently asked by fans. “I love travelling and often post videos from my trips on Facebook. Many people assume that I’ve settled abroad because several actors have done so. So they often ask me, ‘Do you live overseas?’ The truth is, I still live in Bangladesh.”
