After years away from the entertainment spotlight, Sadika Parveen Popy is preparing for a return to Dhallywood—but this time, she will be working behind the camera rather than in front of it.
Once one of the most sought-after heroines in Bangladeshi cinema, Popy has remained largely out of public view since completing work on ‘Direct Action’ in 2020. During her time away from the industry, she got married and became a mother.
Now, she says she is ready to begin a new chapter in cinema, with film production rather than acting as her focus.
Popy Rules Out a Return to Acting
Popy has made it clear that she does not currently intend to resume her acting career.
“I will not return to acting, that is for sure,” the actress said in a recent conversation.
However, she revealed that some unfinished professional commitments remain, which she plans to complete before fully moving into her new role as a producer.
“After that, I want to start a new chapter in cinema as a producer,” she added.
Her decision marks a significant change for an actress who spent years at the centre of Dhallywood’s commercial film industry.
Production Has Been a Longtime Interest
Popy’s move into production is not entirely unexpected. She has previously been involved in film production, including a project directed by Monowar Khokon.
That experience, however, came with a financial setback. Popy said she lost around Tk 20 lakh, attributing the loss to a lack of cooperation from the production team.
“The team’s lack of cooperation caused the loss,” she recalled.
Despite that difficult experience, Popy believes her long career in the industry has given her a better understanding of how film production works.
“I have learned how this industry works. I believe I can do something worthwhile in production,” she said.
She had also been associated with projects including ‘Kidnap’ and ‘Jibon Manei Juddho’, reflecting an interest in the production side of cinema that she says has existed for years.
From a Beauty Contest to Dhallywood Stardom
Popy’s journey to becoming one of Bangladesh’s leading actresses began in Khulna.
Born in Sonadanga, she was the eldest of six siblings. Her entry into showbiz came after her mother submitted her photograph to the Lux-Anand Bichitra Beauty Contest.
Winning the competition opened the door to a career in entertainment. Popy subsequently moved to Dhaka with her mother and enrolled at Lalmatia Women’s College.
She soon attracted the attention of filmmaker Sohanur Rahman Sohan, eventually making her film debut in ‘Amar Ghor Amar Behest’, opposite Shakil Khan.
‘Coolie’ Established Popy as a Star
Although her debut introduced her to the big screen, it was Montazur Rahman Akbar’s ‘Coolie’, in which she starred opposite Omar Sunny, that helped establish Popy as a major commercial star.
The success of the film was followed by a busy period in her career, with Popy appearing in numerous projects and becoming a familiar face to Bangladeshi cinema audiences.
At the height of her popularity, her schedule was filled with back-to-back productions, cementing her position among Dhallywood’s prominent heroines.
Popy Regrets Not Completing Her Education
While reflecting on her journey, Popy also spoke about something she wishes had been different.
Her demanding career prevented her from completing her education, a decision she now looks back on with some regret.
“If I could have finished my studies, life would have felt more complete,” she admitted.
The comment offers a glimpse into the personal compromises that accompanied her rise to fame.
A Different Role in Bangladeshi Cinema
Popy’s return to the industry therefore represents more than a conventional celebrity comeback.
After spending years building a career as an actress, she now wants to use her experience from within the industry to shape projects from the production side.
