Swimming against the tide

When I approached Hasin and requested to cover her on Star Showbiz, her first reaction was full of gratefulness. She said that the fact that the Daily Star wanted to interview her for a cover story speaks volumes about her journey as a media personality so far. In her words, “I feel Star Showbiz only covers those who have reached a certain level.” Since there were no personal acquaintances connecting me to her, she couldn't approach me either and she wasn't sure whether she should or not. She believes that today's issue, this cover story, is a big achievement for her, one that will not only motivate her to do better, but augment her image in the eyes of her family, her loved ones and her fans.
Hasin's journey in the media has not been a smooth ride, not because of the media itself, but because of the sentimental resentment and stigma associated with working in the media. It is not easy for a Bangladeshi girl to shine in the media, especially when her family does not support her aspirations. Hasin comes from a very conservative family who never imagined her to do anything beyond earning an ordinary living from a conventional job, and raising a family. When she stepped into the media, her mother stopped talking to her. Although Hasin's mother came around later, she still doesn't wholeheartedly accept the career choices her daughter has made. However, Hasin's father has been quite supportive, and her elder sister has been her biggest ally, continuously motivating her and pushing her to achieve her dreams.
At the brink of a growing career, Hasin decided that she cannot keep fighting against all odds, so she conceded her family's pressures and got married early. Lucky for her, her new family of in-laws, especially her mother-in-law, has been very supportive of her career and this has helped her to continue working in the media. In fact, if she starts to appear less on television, her mother-in-law never fails to express her concern! Hasin has always felt that it is important for her to maintain a healthy relationship with her family members; she hopes to never alienate them in any form. Going forward, Hasin wishes to maintain a healthy balance between her family and her work in the media and this balance is the key to a long and successful career.
Not everyone is as brave as Hasin. Not everyone can last long swimming against the tide. But the tides are changing. Someday, this stigma of choosing to work in the media will be gone from our society, and it really needs to – or else we will never know about the acting talents that lie undiscovered in our society. Perhaps we need to wait till this happens before we see the media sector take flight and reach its full potential. Until then, I hope those like Hasin who have found a way to beat the odds inspire the next generation of creative talents to not give up on their dreams.