I hope Venice opens new doors for us: Sunerah

Sunerah Binte Kamal made a striking debut with No Dorai, earning the National Film Award for her very first silver screen performance. Since then, she has carved a steady path in the entertainment industry, winning acclaim for her work across a range of television dramas.

She earned widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Saira in the popular serial “Eta Amaderi Golpo”. Now, another significant milestone awaits her, as “The Difficult Bride”, directed by Rubaiyat Hossain, heads to the Venice International Film Festival, marking a historic achievement for Bangladeshi cinema.

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“I’m absolutely delighted. This is a moment of joy not only for everyone involved with the film, but for our country’s cinema as well. And yes, I’ll be travelling to Venice too,” Sunerah said.

Reflecting on “The Difficult Bride”, she added, “It’s a beautiful film, and I genuinely enjoyed being part of it. Rubaiyat Hossain is an immensely knowledgeable director, and we had a wonderful team. Everything was thoughtfully planned and executed, and I’m very proud of the work we’ve done.”

Beyond the excitement of the screening, Sunerah is also looking forward to immersing herself in the festival and meeting filmmakers from across the globe.

“Filmmakers and cinema professionals from different parts of the world will be there. I hope being part of such a prestigious festival will allow me to learn, experience and discover so much more,” she said.

“The Difficult Bride” has earned a place in the competition section of the Venice International Film Festival, marking a significant achievement for Bangladeshi cinema. Sunerah is hopeful that the film will strike a chord with international audiences.

“I believe our film will capture attention at such a prestigious festival and earn the love and appreciation of audiences,” she said.
 

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Speaking about director Rubaiyat Hossain, Sunerah praised her both as a filmmaker and as a person.

“She is incredibly talented, but also a genuinely wonderful person. She is deeply committed to her work and takes great care with every detail. Even after filming wrapped, she remained in touch with us and would check in every week. Many people move on once a shoot is over, but she is different. I truly admire that about her.”

For Sunerah, a memorable film is ultimately the result of several elements coming together seamlessly.

“A good story, a strong team, compelling performances and a skilled director — when all these elements come together, that is what makes a film truly worthwhile. The Difficult Bride has all of these,” she said.

This is not Sunerah’s first foray into the international festival circuit. A few years ago, she travelled to South Korea with Nuhash Humayun's directorial film “Moshari” (2022),  featuring her which was screened at an international film festival.

Looking ahead, Sunerah said she intends to be selective about the projects she takes on.

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“I want to continue being part of films, but only if they are meaningful. I’m receiving scripts, but I’ll only commit to a project when I genuinely connect with it.”

For now, Sunerah remains busy with television, with several dramas in her schedule. She plans to return to new projects after her trip to the Venice International Film Festival.