‘I’ve always believed in honest storytelling’: Afsana Mimi on her big screen return

Beloved actress and director Afsana Mimi returns to the silver screen this Eid-ul-Azha with "Utshob", a heartfelt family drama directed by Tanim Noor. The film also reunites her with Zahid Hasan, signalling their first on-screen reunion in over 20 years.

With her signature poise and quiet intensity, Mimi doesn't just step back into the spotlight, she owns it. Once a defining presence in 1990s Bangladeshi television, she now brings that legacy full circle in a film that, she says, moved her deeply enough to say yes.

"I chose to be a part of 'Utshob' because the story moved me," Mimi tells The Daily Star during a relaxed afternoon conversation. "When Tanim shared the plot with me, I immediately felt that it was warm, real, and beautifully written — I knew I had to be part of it." 

"Utshob" is a family drama, packed with a stellar cast that includes Zahid Hasan, Jaya Ahsan, and Sadia Ayman, among others. But for Mimi, it's also personal — a return not just to acting, but to old friendships.

"I acted with Zahid after more than 20 years. Can you believe that?" she says, smiling. "We had so much fun. We were shooting while Sadia Islam Mou was abroad, so Zahid and I took a selfie and sent it to her. That felt like a full-circle moment."

Her chemistry with Zahid Hasan, once one of television's most iconic pairings, is central to "Utshob". But Mimi insists the film doesn't belong to any one actor.

"This isn't a one-man show. We're all supporting each other's characters," she explains. "That's what real cinema is — shared, collective storytelling."

And what about the tagline on the film's posters — not to be watched without family?

Mimi laughs. "It's true! You need your family around for this one. 'Utshob' is about home and togetherness. It only makes sense that it should be watched that way."

Despite appearing on screen only occasionally in recent years, Mimi hasn't exactly been idle. She's directed several acclaimed television dramas and web projects, and appeared in films like "Jongli", "Paap Punno", and "Patalghor".

"I'm consistently working — just not all the time," she says with a shrug. "I choose stories that speak to me. That's the only rule."

With "Utshob" releasing this Eid-ul-Azha, Afsana Mimi reclaims her space not as a star seeking a comeback, but as an artiste who never left — just someone who waited for the right story.

"I've always believed in clean, honest storytelling," she says. "And with 'Utshob', I think we've done just that."

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