For Heme, Eid is a mix of joy, nostalgia, and sacrifice

Like every Eid, actress Jannatul Sumaiya Heme has been busy balancing multiple projects across genres. This year too, the actress appears in a mix of romantic dramas, comedy-based stories, and emotionally driven narratives.

“We did a lot of projects this Eid as always,” Heme shared. “Some of the stories were inspired by real-life incidents while some leaned more toward comedy and entertainment.”

Among the lighter projects she worked on is “Grihopalito Nobab”, a story revolving around a cow raised from childhood and later sacrificed during Qurbani. “It’s an entertaining project but emotionally relatable at the same time,” she said. “We also worked on several romantic dramas this Eid.”

However, one particular project stands out for the actress — “Rupar Shongshar”.

“That project is extremely close to my heart,” Heme said. “I played three different phases of Rupa’s life — at 25, 45, and 65 years old. It was a challenging but beautiful experience.”

According to the actress, the drama focuses on the sacrifices a woman makes silently for her family throughout her life. “I usually love female-centric stories and this drama really captures the emotional journey and sacrifices of a woman,” she explained. “I’m especially looking forward to audiences watching this one.”

When it comes to celebrating Eid, Heme says she mostly spends the occasion in Dhaka with her family. “Most of the time I stay in Dhaka because we arrange our Qurbani here,” she said. “Occasionally I visit my grandparents’ homes as well. I went to my maternal grandparents’ home in Munshiganj last Eid. But this time, I was in Dhaka and still attending dawats here.”

Reflecting on the significance of Eid-ul-Azha, the actress said the festival has always taught her the meaning of sacrifice and compassion.

“I think Eid-ul-Azha teaches us how to sacrifice the things we love the most,” she said emotionally. “I don’t usually cry, but I got emotionally attached to our cow, and he was very friendly and gentle.”

Heme recalled returning home from the shoot and feeling overwhelmed seeing the cow before the sacrifice. “He was so sweet and calm. He just wanted little strokes on his head. I became very emotional thinking I had to give him away.”

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According to her, the festival is not only about sacrifice but also about empathy and sharing. “It teaches us to care for the less fortunate, strengthens family bonds, and even creates love and compassion for animals within a very short period of time,” she added.

The actress also opened up about one of her earliest childhood memories tied to Eid-ul-Azha — a memory that still deeply affects her.

“When I was very little, we bought a cow weeks before Eid and I became extremely attached to it,” she recalled. “My mother would even place me on its back because I loved sitting on it.”

But the memory took a heartbreaking turn on the day of sacrifice.

“When the cow was being sacrificed, it kept staring at me the entire time,” she said. “It didn’t move. I remember feeling like it was crying. That moment touched me deeply and I think that’s when I started developing a stronger compassion for animals.”

Despite the emotional memories surrounding Qurbani, Heme says Eid remains one of the happiest times of her life, especially because of her childhood in Old Dhaka.

“Most of my happiest Eid memories are from growing up in Old Dhaka,” she said with a smile. “All my cousins lived in the same building, so Eid felt magical.”

From competing over salami to colour-coordinating dresses with cousins, the actress remembers every detail fondly. “We used to compare who got the highest salami and even hide our Eid dresses before Eid day,” she laughed. “We loved dressing alike and roaming around together.”

Food outings were also a major part of the celebrations. “Every evening during Eid, going to Dhupkhola Math for phuchka was a must,” she recalled. “And we always ended the night with cone ice cream.”

Now years later, while her Eid celebrations may look different, the emotions tied to the festival remain just as strong.