Jaya Ahsan is a name synonymous with captivating performances and unwavering dedication to her craft. For more than two decades, she has been the undisputed powerhouse of Bangladeshi cinema, captivating audiences not just at home but also across the border in India and beyond.
As the most celebrated actress of Bangladesh, her unparalleled talent has earned her three Filmfare Awards and six National Film Awards, achievements unmatched by any of her peers.
Born on July 1, 1983, in Dhaka, Ahsan's artistic inclinations were evident from a young age. Her journey began with classical music training at Rabindra Sangeet, which led to her first television appearance in the teledrama "Panchami."
Her modelling career took off after she appeared in a calendar, catching the eye of Afzal Hossain, who featured her in a Coca-Cola advertisement. Despite leaving modelling to pursue her studies and a brief stint at the newspaper Bhorer Kagoj and a children's school, she returned to modelling and starred in Giasuddin Selim's "Shongshoy."
Jaya cemented her reputation as a formidable actress with memorable roles in productions such as "Labonyo Probha," "Shonkhobash," "Hatkura," and "Choita Pagol." Her performance in Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's "Tarporo Angurlata Nondoke Bhalobashe" solidified her standing in the industry. She continued to captivate audiences in various teledramas, including "Sixty Nine," "Tevaga," "Shahortolir Alo," and "Amader Golpo."
Jaya’s film debut came as a guest artist in Mostofa Sarwar Farooki's "Bachelor." Her breakthrough role as a lead actress was in Nasiruddin Yousuff's "Guerrilla," based on Syed Shamsul Huq's novel "Nishiddho Loban." The film's critical success earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress. She followed this with an acclaimed performance in the action thriller "Chorabali," winning her second National Film Award.
Expanding her horizons, Jaya ventured into Indian Bengali cinema with Arindam Sil's "Aborto," earning a Filmfare Awards East nomination for Best Debut Performance Female. Her presence was recognised globally when she received an invitation to the 66th Cannes Film Festival. Collaborating with Shakib Khan, she starred in "Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini" and its sequel, establishing her versatility in romantic dramas.
In 2015, Jaya displayed her range in Srijit Mukherji's "Rajkahini," a poignant tale set against the backdrop of the 1947 Bengal partition, and the psycho-horror "Ekti Bangali Bhuter Goppo" by Indranil Roychowdhury. Her role in Kaushik Ganguly’s "Bishorjan" in 2017 won her multiple accolades, including the Filmfare Award, making her the first Bangladeshi to achieve this honour.
Jaya’s passion for storytelling led her to produce "Debi," an adaptation of Humayun Ahmed’s novel, under her production house C Te Cinema. Her portrayal in the film garnered her a fourth National Film Award and a seventh Meril Prothom Alo Award. Continuing her success, she won the Tele Cine Awards for Best Actress for her role in "Bijoya," the sequel to "Bishorjan."
