National Film Award winning actress Popy is quite famous. She has been living in home quarantine because of the coronavirus. However, her time in home quarantine is a bit different than that of others because she is now at her birth place Khulna at the moment. A Mizan talks to her about
living in Khulna for many days after so many years and also other contemporary issues.
Are you still in Khulna?
Yes, I am still in Khulna at the moment.
How long has it been?
I have been in Khulna for almost two months.
Have you ever been to your village home for so long since the beginning of your career?
This is the first time I have been fasting in Khulna and spending the whole Ramadan after a very long time. In other words, after 25 years, I am fasting and spending Ramadan in Khulna.
After 25 years, you are staying in your village home. Did you ever think that you would have to spend such a long time there without any work?
I never thought of it that way. Not only me, I think no one in the world ever thought that they would have to face something like this. I never imagined such a horror in our lives. Still I am grateful to the creator. I am still alive and well.
How are you spending your time?
Time keeps passing by. It never stops for anything. I am staying at home with my family. I am praying and fasting. I spend my time with the relatives and asking about their whereabouts. I don’t have shooting right now, so staying at home for so long has been a different experience.
How long has it been since you last went out?
Not going out much at all. Our house has about 11 bighas of land. There are many things to see starting from the pond to the garden. As a result, time passes by roaming around the courtyard of my home. There isn’t that much need to go outside.
You are living in home quarantine. Aren’t you facing depression?
I'm not really depressed. But I'm terrified. There are so many people around me getting sick that I am always in panic. But I am disappointed because I have struggled since childhood.
I like to fight all the time. Our life is a battlefield. I don't know what fate is there for us. We want to win the corona war by being mentally strong and conscious.
Tell us about how you helped those around your neighbourhood.
This is actually my moral responsibility. I did it out of my own sense of responsibility.
Are you missing your work?
Of course I am missing my work a lot. I like to work all the time. I prefer to stay away from my family and home. I miss my colleagues in my work place too. I miss the applause of the moviegoers.
What is your message to everyone in this situation?
Coronaviurs spread in Bangladesh has just started. In other countries of the world, it started long ago, but in Bangladesh it has not started for a long time. If it starts spreaading in a greater way, I don't know how long we'll live.
So follow the government's instructions to get rid of this miserable life. Let everything be fine. Everyone stay at home, stay safe. Those who have money have resources, I want to request them to extend a helping hand to those who need help.
What kind of world do you want to see at the end of coronavirus?
We will work together again in a healthy beautiful world where there is no violence. Coronavirus has taught us a lesson. In the world, there is no money, no power. Relationships cost a lot more that this.
The value of the relationship should always be given properly. If people really learn from this, and if we get better, I hope we will be able to see a beautiful world in the future.
What do you want to do at the end of the coronavirus period?
I myself don’t know what I am going to do. I want to get into a healthy life. I don't want to die with regrets. I have many wishes that have not yet been fulfilled. I want to fulfil those.
Do you plan on getting married after the pandemic?
I haven't really thought about it yet. Let me stay alive first. I will think about it after the coronavirus period ends.