TBT REPORT

For an actress, a character is not simply a set of dialogues, costumes or standing in front of a camera. Every character carries a life of its own—with a story, struggles, joys, sorrows and a distinct way of living. Trying to understand that life is one of the defining aspects of Runa Khan’s approach to acting. Rather than showcasing herself on screen, she seems more interested in bringing the person behind the character to life.

That is why she sometimes becomes a woman from the margins of society and at other times a representative of the affluent class. Sometimes she portrays someone audiences know well, while at other times she steps into a completely unfamiliar life. As the characters and their stories change, Runa Khan continues to discover new paths in her acting through those stories.

Her acting journey began in 2001 through street theatre. About a week before a street play was scheduled to be staged at the foot of the Central Shaheed Minar, a teenage girl joined the troupe. Soon, one of the members fell ill, creating uncertainty about the performance. In the absence of the experienced performer, the team decided to put the newcomer on stage.

Although she was initially nervous in front of thousands of spectators, she eventually proved herself. At the end of the performance, the stage was filled with applause. That stage perhaps gave her the first real understanding that stepping into a character means carrying another person’s life within oneself for a while.

Her professional acting career began with Sisimpur in 2004. Since then, she has left her mark across theatre, television, cinema and OTT platforms, earning national recognition as well. The early years of Runa Khan’s acting career were particularly busy. She worked regularly until her marriage in 2009. At the time, her thinking was simple: the more she worked, the more audiences would see her and get to know her.

She appeared in everything from single-episode dramas to television serials. She then took an almost three-year break due to motherhood. Although the hiatus created a break in her acting career, it later encouraged her to rethink the way she selected projects. Runa decided to divide her time differently, giving more attention to her family and child. As a result, instead of regular serials, she gradually focused more on single-episode dramas, telefilms and films.

One of the notable early films in Runa Khan’s cinematic journey was Chitkini, followed by Halda. Gradually, characters became the centre of her acting career. Rather than the size of a role or the amount of screen time, what mattered most to her was whether a character offered her an opportunity to do something new. She settled into a rhythm of working four or five days a month, sometimes shooting only once every two months.

With the rise of OTT platforms in Bangladesh, more diverse characters opened up for Runa. Through web content such as Antar Nagar, in which she played Rozina, Oshomoy, where she portrayed Emily Rahman, Bodh, as Deepti, and Bohimian Ghora, she continued to introduce audiences to different facets of her acting. Each character received praise from viewers.

Among them, Emily Rahman in Kajol Arefin Ome’s Oshomoy was particularly significant. The role allowed her to portray a different reality of a highly educated, affluent woman in society.

Runa Khan said, “I enjoy watching films based on people’s lives, and I also enjoy acting in them. The most fascinating aspect of acting for me is observing people’s lives up close. Through a character, you get the opportunity to experience another person’s life.”

Her filmography bears out that philosophy. Her notable works include Kaushik Shankar Das’s Dafon, Masud Pathik’s Bok, Zahid Hossain’s Leela Monthan, Sandeep Biswas’s Osimer Pane and Rajon Talukdar’s Jal Paban.

Jal Paban was shot in the haor region, while Bok was inspired by Jibanananda Das’s poem At Bochor Ager Ekdin. For Runa, these are more than just films; they tell stories of ordinary people, marginalised communities and women across the country. She believed in and enjoyed every character, with diversity being the most important element.

“I don’t want to play characters that all have the same flavour. As an actress, the most enjoyable part for me is getting to know each character anew. Sometimes I play a woman whose life is completely different from those of the people around me. At other times, I portray someone we may see every day but whose inner story we know nothing about. For me, acting is about discovering that story,” Runa said.

Despite her extensive body of work, Runa does not view acting primarily as a source of financial security. For her, acting is rooted in passion and love. Perhaps that is why she is so careful when choosing roles. Acting is not merely a profession to her; it is an opportunity to enter different layers of human life.

“Acting is something I love. I have never viewed it simply as a means of earning money. Perhaps that is why, even if I work less, I want to do things that make me feel the time was worthwhile,” she said.

Runa understands that an actress does not always have the opportunity to choose every character she wants. Unless an actor is also a producer or director, their control over selecting stories or characters is limited. Therefore, she tries to give her best to the projects that come her way.

From that perspective, she remains grateful to the directors who have envisioned her in diverse roles throughout her career.

“An actor or actress does not always have the opportunity to choose their characters. We have to choose from the projects that come our way. So I am grateful to those who have envisioned me in different kinds of roles,” she said.

From that stage at the Shaheed Minar to today’s OTT screens, Runa Khan’s journey is more than the story of an actress’s career. It is a journey of touching and experiencing the lives of different people through characters. Sometimes she becomes a woman from the margins, sometimes a representative of the affluent class; sometimes someone familiar, and sometimes a person from a completely unfamiliar life.

The characters change, the stories change, and the lives within those stories change—but Runa Khan’s passion for acting remains the same.