Sarika Sabrin reclaims the spotlight with web-films

Model and actress Sarika Sabrin was once a well-known face on television. From 2009 to 2011, she was at the peak of her career, acting in 26 dramas. 

However, in 2013, she decided to take a step back from the spotlight for personal reasons and kept a low profile for several years. 

Even as she made a silent comeback to TV dramas in the past few years, they never quite made their way to the mainstream.

But thanks to OTT content, she's back in the acting game. 

The news of her return with Raihan Rafi's 'Mayaa' made waves on social media as netizens expressed their excitement about the web-film.

As Sarika makes her way back to screens, she reflects on her journey so far, and her opinions on TV and OTT platforms.

From TV to OTT

In her second web-film, which was recently released on Binge, Sarika plays the lead character named Mayaa. Contrary to the film's title, the teaser actually unveiled a thrilling, tumultuous story. 

According to Sarika, she aims to show the reality of a woman's life and how they face challenges head-on through her role as Mayaa. Bringing such a character to life takes a lot of work, and she was up for the challenge. 

"We all worked really hard on this project. We rehearsed for many days before we actually started shooting. We filmed this at the end of last year," she told us.

Sarika also reflected on her comeback on TV–which was an entirely different experience. From taking on 17 projects in 2011 to a mere handful in the past several years, her career has certainly shifted.

When we asked what her perspective was on the underwhelming response her comeback on TV garnered, she made it clear that the volume of her work was not reflective of her success, and that she feels that the response has actually been quite satisfactory. 

"My work does get noticed. I haven't consistently worked on a project for 30 days straight for many years. I usually take on roles in Eid specials or other special occasions now," she commented.

The nature of OTT platforms has been evolving, growing even more popular. Many believe this shift in audience attention has led to a decline in the popularity of TV dramas. 

But Sarika holds a different perspective on this. "I don't look at it as the growth of one leading to the fall of the other. If a TV drama is good, people will still watch it. However, I believe it is a good thing that OTT has been growing."  

There was a time when she was frequently rumoured to be acting in commercial films, and there was plenty of buzz about it in the media. However, those discussions never quite materialised into anything concrete. 

Recently, it seems she has been focusing more on OTT content. She's currently working on an OTT project directed by Abdullah Mohammad Saad, the director known for the movie 'Rehana Maryam Noor'.

She informed us that the shooting for the upcoming OTT is complete but fans will have to wait a little longer for more details.

Not all was smooth sailing

In November 2020, Sarika had stepped into a new role by becoming the host of the celebrity talk show 'Amar Ami' on Banglavision. Since then, she has consistently hosted it without a break. 

In the past, directors and producers from the acting industry had accused her of breaking work commitments.

Back in 2018, the Television Program Producers Association of Bangladesh even banned her for six months after producer Borhan Uddin Khan accused her of cancelling shooting schedules.

However, in the four years of hosting, she has not missed a single schedule.

"There's no room for gaps in hosting. It's a scheduled programme. I took breaks from acting due to personal reasons, but it wasn't a complete hiatus. My dedication has helped me stay consistent and comfortable in hosting," she commented. 

In today's world, social media is a huge part of most people's lives, with platforms like Facebook and Instagram playing important roles. 

However, despite being a media star, Sarika hasn't been on Facebook or Instagram for the past seven years. While this may surprise many, she revealed to TBS that she enjoys her social media-free life.

"Seven years ago, my Facebook account got deactivated. After that, I chose not to create a new one. Months and years passed, and I realised I could live just fine without it. So, I decided to keep it deactivated for as long as I could."

She continued, "Without social media, I have so much more time for myself. I don't have any specific plans for when I'll return to social media."