Jaya Ahsan


Jaya Maswood, popularly known as Jaya Ahsan, is a Bangladeshi film actress, model, producer and playback singer. Starting her career as a model and, later, as a film actress, she works mostly in Bangladeshi and Indian Bengali films. She won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress six times for her performances in the films Guerrilla, Chorabali, Zero Degree, Debi, Alatchakra, and Beauty Circus. She also earned four Filmfare Awards East, Zee Cine Awards, and Meril-Prothom Alo Awards.
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Early life

Ahsan was born to A. S. Maswood and Rehana Maswood in Bangladesh. She has a younger sister and brother. Along with her formal education, she took a diploma course in Rabindra Sangeet and training in classical music. She first appeared on television when she performed in the teledrama Panchami. She modeled for a calendar which caught the eye of Afzal Hossain, who later offered her work on a promotional advertisement for the soft drink Coca-Cola. Afterwards, she left modeling and continued with her studies. She joined the newspaper Bhorer Kagoj, a national daily. After a brief stint at a children's school, she returned to modelling. Thereafter, she worked in Giasuddin Selim's Shongshoy. She also practices crafting and painting, which she demonstrated in art house productions like Enechhi Shurjer Hashi.

Career

Television

Ahsan first appeared on television in an ad for Coca-Cola in 1997. She debuted her acting career on television through the drama Panchomi, written by Shahidul Haque Khan.
Having begun her career as a model in the late 1990s, Ahsan has since worked in numerous television dramas and serials. She established her reputation as an actress with roles as Monika in Labonyo Probha, Pushpo in Toukir Ahmed and Bipasha Hayat's teleplay Shonkhobash, and in Hatkura. She found Hatkura, set on the edge of a village in Rangpur District, a challenge. "I had to learn the dialect of Rangpur for the role. Actually, I had never been to a village before that. And it was a completely new experience for me", she said. In Channel i's 2010–2011 serial Choita Pagol, she played the role of rural woman Alta. Ahsan said, "Alta is one of my favourite characters. I liked playing the role." Her performance in Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's Tarporo Angurlata Nondoke Bhalobashe also cemented her position as an actress. She portrayed various characters in teledramas including: Sixty Nine , Tevaga, Shahortolir Alo, Tarpor Paruler Deen, Amader Choto Nodi, Mayesha, Jostna, Nodi Othoba Roshider Kichu Kolpo Drisyo, Amader Golpo and many more.
Ahsan played the role of a sex worker in the television play Tarporo Angurlata Nando Ke Bhalobashey in 2009.

Film

Ahsan debuted her film career as a guest artiste in the film Bachelor , directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. As the lead actress, she debuted in Nasiruddin Yousuff's film Guerrilla. Adapted from the novel Nishiddho Loban by Syed Shamsul Huq, the film was based on the events of the Bangladesh Liberation War. It narrates the tale of Bilkis Banu, played by Ahsan, a freedom fighter, who actively participates in the Liberation War while searching for her lost husband. The film won National Film Awards in ten categories, including the Best Actress Award for Ahsan.
Ahsan's second film, Chorabali, was an action thriller directed by Redoan Rony. She portrayed Noboni Afroz, a journalist, and won her second National Film Award for Best Actress Award.
In 2013, Ahsan acted in an Indian Bangla film titled Aborto, directed by Arindam Sil. She was nominated for the Filmfare Awards East for Best Debut Performance Female for her role in the film. She also received an official invitation to attend the 66th Cannes Film Festival. In the same year, she appeared in Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini, a Bangladeshi romantic film directed by Shafi Uddin Shafi. It was her first Bangladeshi film in collaboration with Shakib Khan. They both starred in its sequel, Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini 2, released in 2015.
After a one-year break Zero Degree was her next venture. The film is a psychological thriller written and directed by Animesh Aich and was released on 15 January 2015. Ahsan won a National Film Award for best actress for her performance in the film. In 2015, Ahsan worked in two other Indian Bangla films — Rajkahini based on the 1947 east and west Bengal separation directed by Srijit Mukherji and Ekti Bangali Bhuter Goppo, a psycho-horror film directed by Indranil Roychowdhury. Ekti Bangali Bhuter Golpo was set for a world TV premier in Kolkata on 17 May in Zee Bangla Cinema. Jaya's much anticipated Rajkahini starring alongside Rituparna Sengupta, Abir Chatterjee, Parno Mittra, Sohini Sarkar, Rajatava Dutta and many others was released on 16 October 2015.
In 2017, Ahsan acted in Bishorjan alongside Abir Chatterjee and Kaushik Ganguly directed by Kaushik Ganguly himself, for which she received awards including Filmfare Awards, Zee Cine Awards and BFJA Awards for her performance portraying the character of Padma. In the same year, Jaya was honoured with the ABP Ananda Sera Bangali for achievement in acting. Her other two releases that year are Akram Khan's Khacha: The Cage and Manoj Michigan's Ami Joy Chatterjee.
In 2018, Ahsan performed in a courtroom drama Ek Je Chhilo Raja based on the historic Bhawal case directed by Srijit Mukjerji in a star cast including Jisshu Sengupta, Aparna Sen, Anjan Dutt, Rudranil Ghosh and others. She was also seen in Crisscross alongside Mimi Chakraborty and Nusrat Jahan, directed by Birsa Dasgupta. Debi, a film based on Humayun Ahmed's novel, was released on 19 October 2018. It is directed by Anam Biswas, starring Chanchal Chowdhury, Ahsan and Sabnam Faria in the lead roles. The film was produced by Ahsan, as her first production from her production house C Te Cinema. She received her fourth National Film Award for Best Actress and her seventh Meril Prothom Alo Award for Best Film Actress for her performance in this film.
In 2019, her first release was Kaushik Ganguly's Bijoya, sequel to Bishorjan for which she won the Tele Cine Awards for Best Actress and Best Jodi alongside her co-star Abir Chatterjee. Then she was seen in Arnab Paul's debut Brishty Tomakey Dilam, a psychological thriller based on split personality disorder. She received the 'Dashobhuja Bangali 2019' award from the St. Xavier's College Calcutta Alumni Association. Next she did Konttho which released on 10 May directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee starring Shiboprosad Mukherjee himself, Paoli Dam where Jaya plays the role of a speech therapist. After that she teamed up with Atanu Ghosh for his movie Bini Sutoy alongside Ritwick Chakraborty. Jaya again worked with Atanu Ghosh next film titled Robibar starring with Prosenjit Chatterjee for the first time. She has finished Soukarya Ghosal's fantasy horror Bhootpori and is shooting for Kaushik Ganguly's next titled Ardhangini starring alongside Churni Ganguly. She wrapped up filming Alatchakra, the first 3D Bengali movie directed by Habibur Rahman based on the novel by Ahmed Sofa. She then worked with Piplu Khan on his first feature film Jaya Aar Sharmin based on the current pandemic.
In December 2023, Ahsan made her Bollywood debut in Kadak Singh, a thriller film by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury released on Zee5. Hindustan Times regarded her performance in the film as "Outstanding on OTT: Breakout Performance".
In 2025, Jaya Ahsan starred in two Eid-ul-Adha releases—Raihan Rafi's action-thriller Taandob and Tanim Noor's Utshob.

Playback

Ahsan is also a singer and took diploma courses in Indian classical music and Rabindra Sangeet. She did playback in few films, such as "Tomer Khola Hawa" in Dubshatar and "Jongoler Daak" in Mesidona.

Other activities

Ahsan is a craftswoman and a visual-artist, which she demonstrated in art-house movie productions like Enechhi Shurjer Hashi. She was chosen as a brand ambassador for USAID to help women and children. In 2019, Ahsan was chosen as the brand ambassador of Bangamata U-19 Women's International Gold Cup.

Personal life

Ahsan married television model Faisal Ahsan Ullah on 14 May 1998. They appeared together in television commercials and jointly ran an event-management company. The couple divorced in 2012. Joya Ahsan still uses her ex-husband’s surname, “Ahsan,” despite the separation.
Media reports speculated a romantic relationship between Ahsan and director Srijit Mukherji during the filming of Bishorjan. The duo was reported to be dating before Mukherji married actress Rafiath Rashid Mithila in 2019.

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004BachelorShailaSpecial appearance
2010DubshatarRenuka RahmanDebut as lead role film
2011Phirey Esho BehulaTanima
2011GuerrillaBilkis Banu
2012ChorabaliNoboni Afroz
2013AbortoCharu SenDebut Indian Bengali film
2013Purno Doirgho Prem KahiniZara
2015Zero DegreeSaniya
2015Ekti Bangali Bhooter GoppoAmrita DattaIndian Bengali film
2015RajkahiniRubinaIndian Bengali film
2016Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini 2Mitu
2016Eagoler ChokhShibangiIndian Bengali film
2016Bhalobashar ShohorAnnapurna DasIndian Bengali Short film
2017BishorjanPadmaIndian Bengali film
2017KhachaSarojini
2017Aami Joy ChatterjeeDr Aditi RoyIndian Bengali film
2018Putro
2018DebiRanuDebut as a producer
2018Ek Je Chhilo RajaMrinmayee DeviIndian Bengali film
2018CrisscrossMiss SenIndian Bengali film
2019BijoyaPadmaIndian Bengali film
2019Brishti Tomake DilamBrishtiIndian Bengali film
2019KontthoRomillaIndian Bengali film
2019RobibaarSayaniIndian Bengali film
2021Alatchakra: Circle of DesireTayeba
2021BinisutoySrabani BaruaIndian Bengali film
2022The Beauty CircusBeauty
2022Jhora PalokLabonya Probha DasIndian Bengali film
2023ArdhanginiMeghnaIndian Bengali film
2023Dawshom AwbotaarMoitreyee GhatakIndian Bengali film
2023Kadak SinghNainaDebut Hindi Film
2024Peyarar SubashPeyara
2024BhootporiBonolotaIndian Bengali film
2024Nakshi Kanthar JaminRehana
2025Jaya Aar SharminJayaAlso as producer
2025TaandobSaira Ali
2025UtshobJaya Ahsan
2025Dear MaaBrinda MitraIndian Bengali film
2025Putulnacher ItikathaKusumIndian Bengali film
2025FereshtehIran-Bangladesh joint production
2026Indian Bengali film; 6th February release date
TBATBAFilming
TBAFilming; Indian Bengali film

Web series

Paanch Phoron
  • ''Jimmi''

Awards and nominations

National Film Awards
YearCategoryFilmResult
2011Best ActressGuerrillaWon
2012Best ActressChorabaliWon
2015Best ActressZero DegreeWon
2018Best ActressDebiWon
2022Best ActressBeauty CircusWon

Meril Prothom Alo Awards
YearCategoryFilmResult
2005Best TV Actress Enechi Shurjer HashiNomitated
2006Best TV Actress HutkuraWon
2007Best TV Actress ShonkhobashNomitated
2007Best TV Actress ScriptwritterNomitated
2009Best TV Actress Tarporo Angurlota Nondoke BhalobasheWon
2009Best TV Actress Bikol Pakhir GaanNomitated
2010Best TV Actress Choita PagoNomitated
2011Best Film Actress GuerrillaWon
2011Best Film Actress GuerrillaNomitated
2011Best TV Actress Choita PagolWon
2011Best TV Actress Koyekti Neel Ronger PencilNomitated
2012Best Film Actress ChorabaliWon
2012Best TV Actress Aamader GolpoNomitated
2012Best TV Actress Aamader GolpoNomitated
2013Best Film Actress Purno Doirgho Prem KahiniWon
2015Best Film Actress Zero DegreeNomitated
2018Best Film Actress DebiNomitated
2018Best Film Actress DebiWon

Bachsas Awards
YearCategoryFilmResult
2011Best ActressGuerrillaWon
2018Best ActressDebiWon

Filmfare Awards Bangla
YearCategoryFilmResult
2013Best Debutante FemaleAbortoNomitated
2017Best Actor In A Leading Role Eagoler ChokhNomitated
2018Best Actor in a Leading Role BishorjanWon
2018Critics' Award for Best Actor BishorjanNomitated
2021Critics' Award for Best Actor Robibaar and BijoyaWon
2022Best Actress and Best Actress BinisutoyWon
2024Best Supporting ActressArdhanginiWon
2025Best Actor in a Leading Role BhootporiNomitated

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards
YearCategoryFilmResult
2018Best ActressBishorjanWon
2019Best Supporting ActressEk Je Chhilo RajaNominated

Zee Cine Awards
YearCategoryFilmResult
2018Best Actress BishorjanWon

Tele Cine Awards
YearCategoryFilmResult
2015Best Supporting Role FemaleRajkahiniWon
2019Best ActressBijoyaWon
2019Best JodiBijoyaWon

International Bangla Film Critic Award
YearCategoryFilmResult
2011Best ActressGuerrillaWon
2017Best ActressBishorjanWon

ABP Ananda Sera Bangali Award
YearCategoryResult
2017Achievement in ActingWon

Dhaka International Film Festival
YearCategoryFilmResult
2011Best ActressGuerrillaWon

Lux Channel i Performance Award
YearCategoryFilmResult
2011Best Actress GuerrillaWon
2011Best Actress Choita PagolWon

CJFB Performance Award
YearCategoryFilmResult
2008Best Actress AntorikkhoWon
2009Best Actress PanjabiwalaWon

Charuniram Award
YearCategoryFilmResult
2008Best Actress AntorikkhoWon
2009Best Actress PanjabiwalaWon
2010Best Actress MayeshaWon

Zee 24 Ghanta Binodoner Sera 24
YearCategoryFilmResult
2026Best Actress CriticsPutul Nacher ItikothaWon