Jannatul Oishee is acting opposite Shakib Khan for the first time. The name of the film is “Soldier”. She talked about the film with Cinebuzz Times.
First shooting with Shakib Khan, surely it’s a chance to get to know him up close?
Jannatul Oishee: Why is Shakib Khan such a big star in the country? Why is he surpassing himself day by day? I realised it anew after going to the shooting of Soldier. I think Shakib Khan is an incredibly professional, hardworking and dedicated artist. He is very focused on his work. One thing about him is very positive: he enters the shooting set with a strange certainty. He knows what he wants. He leaves the set after achieving what he wanted. I think that is why he is today’s Shakib Khan. He is such a big star, and yet I see that before any scene, he discusses it in detail with the director and DOP. He rehearses repeatedly. He is a very cool-headed actor. He will give as many shots as he needs until he is satisfied.
What kind of Oishee will the audience see here?
Jannatul Oishee: Let it remain a surprise for now. Since movies are about enjoyment, I don’t want to spoil the surprise by saying it in advance. I want people to see the first look, the teaser, and after that. I think they will like to watch it even after hearing about it.
In this movie, you have another heroine, Tanjin Tisha, opposite Shakib Khan.
Jannatul Oishee: The term actor or performer is more important to me than the heroine. The character of everyone who is working in this movie is important. Tanjin Tisha is a very successful actress; she has been doing dramas for so long. This is good news for all of us. She has come to the movie, and we will see her on the big screen. Besides, there are some actors in this movie we haven’t seen for a long time, and we feel their absence.
It is often said that two or three heroines mean comparison or competition—how true is this for you?
Jannatul Oishee: I will not deny that comparisons have been made, are being made, and will be made. I will not say this either, it is always right. It is not possible for me, I will stop those who are making comparisons. Now is the age of social media; everyone has a smartphone and Facebook, so everyone sits down to share their opinions. Again, due to Facebook monetisation and other factors, many upload videos comparing two heroines. With some views of those videos with catchy titles, content creators get a little money. However, I do not believe in competition; I have competed in beauty pageants. Film is a part of art, here the part of the person, the length of whose character, has to be portrayed as much as possible. Here, no one is a competitor to anyone; everyone has their own background. Each character has their own strength, with which they make a place in people’s minds.
You have worked on several films. Which character is your favourite among the films you have done so far?
Jannatul Oishee: Actually, I like all the characters. I cannot compare one with the other. I have enjoyed and experienced different types of roles by playing each character. I have gone through different types of brainstorming. I cannot specifically mention one character. If I have to say this moment, I would say, being impressed, the character in the film Soldier. I am enjoying it a lot.
What factors do you consider most important when choosing a new work, story, director, or co-star?
Jannatul Oishee: Story, director, and co-star—all are important for a work. I cannot finalise a work by relying on one. I think no artist can do this. You can understand this even if you look at my list of works.
What kind of character or story would you like to see yourself in in the future?
Jannatul Oishee: Everyone thinks of me as the girl next door. Because, in reality, I am a bit soft-spoken. But I want to work in a character that challenges me, a character that I am not, for which I have to physically transform myself, where I have to prepare myself differently mentally. The people I have worked with say, I need a sweet girl, I need a calm girl, Oishi is there. But I want to be given a character that challenges me.