TBT REPORT

Actress Shabreen Shaka Meem was once a familiar face on television. Beginning her career as a child, she went on to act in numerous dramas as she grew older, earning audiences’ appreciation. Her performances in literature-based productions were particularly notable.

Yet, Meem has been away from showbiz for the past 14 years. She now has a different profession, as she is working at ActionAid Bangladesh, where she has been involved for several years. Her work often takes her outside Dhaka and involves working with disadvantaged and marginalised children.

“I enjoy working with children. Being able to stand beside them gives me a different kind of happiness. I enjoy the work I do,” she said.

After spending years in the world of acting, how does she feel about leaving that familiar life behind?

“I am doing well. With my parents, my sister, my sister’s child and my office, I am happy with my life,” Meem said.

Although she has stayed away from acting, audiences still regularly ask her why she left the profession.

“Wherever I go, people ask me the same questions: Why am I away from acting? Why am I not acting? When will I return regularly? They also tell me, ‘Meem, we miss your acting.’”

For Meem, that affection is itself a form of recognition.

“I have not acted for so many years. People no longer see me on television, yet they still miss me, ask me to act again and talk about my old dramas. That is a great achievement for me. People still remember me.”

Explaining why she stepped away from acting, Meem said her marriage played a major role in the decision.

“Mine was an arranged marriage. Before the wedding, everyone in my in-laws’ family knew that I was an actress. But after I got married, I realised they did not want me to continue acting. I chose to respect their wishes and stepped away from the profession and the world I knew.”

Over time, however, she realised that the marriage was not working.

“I do not want to blame or disrespect anyone. But eventually, I had to make the difficult decision to get divorced. And I did.”

When she decided to separate, her family stood firmly by her.

“My family supported me throughout. Eventually, I left. Afterwards, I went to America with my parents for a few months. At the time, I felt that getting away for a while might help me cope with the difficult period. My parents and younger sister were beside me and gave me courage. They never allowed me to break down. Their support helped me immensely.”

After her marriage, although she had stopped acting, Meem briefly worked as a television news presenter before leaving that job as well.

She has not ruled out acting again, but says she has no plans to return to the industry full-time.

“I have never said I will never act again. But I will not return as regularly as I did before. If I find a role I really like and a story that speaks to me, I may work occasionally. The character and the story would have to draw me in. I played many different roles when I was working regularly, and I have no desire to return to that level of busyness.”

For now, her work and family take up most of her time.

“I have to give a lot of time to my office, and I love my work. Outside the office, I spend lovely moments with my sister’s child. My parents are at home, and I spend time with them. That is all I can say — I am doing well.”