Family-centric stories are returning: Deepa Khandakar

Popular actress Deepa Khandakar has been enjoying a busy and rewarding time across all acting mediums. This Eid, ten of her television dramas were aired on various channels, earning her widespread praise from audiences.

Among them, “Madam er Driver”, directed by Mir Sabbir, has stood out as a particular favourite. The drama features Deepa in the role of “Madam”, opposite Mir Sabbir as the driver—an on-screen pairing that has clearly struck a chord with viewers.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Deepa shared how the response has been overwhelming. “Wherever I go, people praise ‘Madam er Driver’. From children to adults, everyone is enjoying it. At events, people even point me out saying, ‘Madam has arrived.’ And when Mir Sabbir and I attend together, people say, ‘Madam and the driver are here.’ I’m truly enjoying this love,” she said.

She added that audiences are appreciating seeing her in a different light. “Viewers are telling me they’ve never seen me in a character like this before. As an actor, that is deeply satisfying. Their appreciation means they’ve connected with the work.”

Reflecting on her Eid releases, Deepa noted that she took on a wide range of roles this year. “I worked in many dramas this Eid, including a few smaller roles. Even if the part was brief, I chose them because they were meaningful—and audiences have responded positively.”

When asked whether she had managed to watch all her Eid releases, she said she had seen several and plans to catch up on the rest. “I’ve also watched others’ work. I feel there’s more variety in Eid dramas now, with diverse storytelling coming through.”

Addressing the common perception that audiences no longer watch television dramas as they once did, Deepa disagreed. “Viewers are definitely watching. The view counts speak for themselves. Perhaps people are too busy to catch them on television at broadcast time, but once they are released on YouTube, they reach a large audience. Digital platforms have made access much easier.”

She also spoke about keeping up with her peers’ work. “I recently watched ‘Aponjon’—a beautiful, family-oriented story. I also saw ‘Lilith’, featuring Tanzika Amin and Tawsif, and ‘Bheja Chokh’, where Totini and Khairul Basar delivered impressive performances. It’s encouraging to see work beyond formulaic storytelling.”

On the question of shrinking budgets in television dramas, Deepa offered a different perspective. “I don’t agree that budgets have decreased. In fact, they have increased significantly. Perhaps not all artistes are paid equally, but overall budgets are much higher than even two years ago. Some productions now involve large casts, with actors working for eight to ten days on a single project. These are positive developments for the industry.”

With a career spanning 25 years, she views these changes optimistically. “I see the evolution positively. Writers, directors, and actors are all benefiting. Family-centric storytelling, which had declined, is making a comeback—and that’s a good sign.”

Meanwhile, Deepa is also receiving immense appreciation for her role as Fatema Fupu in the ongoing drama serial “Eta Amaderi Golpo”. The character has become so popular that it has taken on a life of its own.

“I’ve never received this level of reaction for a single role before,” she said. “The love and appreciation have been incredible. Wherever I go, people call me ‘Fatema Fupu’.”

With a smile, she added, “It feels like I’ve become the nation’s aunt through this role—and as an actor, that’s a wonderful achievement.”