The Multi-talented bombshell! – Munjarin Mahbub
Munjarin Mahbub has become the nationwide pretty face after the one second pulse GP ad. She has been working as ramp and brand model for some years and is a dance artist since childhood. We came face to face with the model to get some of her perspectives on the industry and showbiz as a whole.
1. Her way into media:
It all started with dance. When my parents realized that I am getting recognition while participating in national and international competitions they had confidence on me to do something in this field. So while I continued performing as a dance artist in an event at Radission, Kazi Kamrul Islam gave me the opportunity to be a ramp model and groomed me accordingly along with Ruma apu. So that’s how it started and now I am doing regular shows with Azra apu, Ruma apu, Kamrul bhai and photo shoots for brands like Aarong, Cat’s Eye, O2 to name few.
2. Qualities one should have to be successful:
To be fit physically and mentally as well. Also on should be sincere, punctual and have focus on the goal. But the most important quality in my view is to complete one’s education. Unfortunately we lack educated people in our industry.
3. She has been a performing dancer and achieved many accolades in the field. She takes us through the journey and achievements in this regard:
I have participated in numerous dance programs, classical as well as contemporary in the stages of home and abroad. I have learned classical music for five years since class one in “Srishti Lalitkala Academy and started learning dance from class six under Tabassum Ahmed, younger sister of Munmun Ahmed. Also I have performed almost 50 stage shows during my two years of college in Cambrian, also I worked as a dance teacher in Cambrian cultural academy later on. In 2012 I went to India representing Cambrian in International Folklore Festival where we became the champion beating participants coming from 17 countries.
4. Experience of participating in World Miss University:
Apurbo Abdul Latif of Wedding Stories inspired me to participate in the competition for which I had to go through several screening processes to get selected. It was an 18 days long competition at a global scale participants coming from 60 countries and I had the opportunity to meet and learn from a diverse group of people which was a valuable experience. But unlike national beauty contests, we were on our own regarding grooming, preparation and representing ourselves so it was challenging as well. We also participated in cultural events like dancing, singing as well as debated in Peking University, China.
5. Pros & cons of the industry:
There are many proven examples of successful models or dancers when they get proper support and encouragement. We do not get enough support sometimes as well as minimum respect as an artist is not shown due to being a model/dancer and the industry is not empathetic to some extent. The competition is fierce so we have to give the best and balance out our personal and social life.
6. Current projects and future plans:
Currently I’m working for the Eid photo shoots and recording is going on for Eid dance shows which will be aired on TV channels. I would love to start a dance school for this generation where student can learn western dance forms like ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, jazz with proper grammar. We have schools where Indian classical forms are taught but none where these kinds of forms are taught. I want to create a platform for the dancers to learn the history of the form along with the grammar as well as where they can practice at per their convenience. The ultimate goal is to provide a career for the dance enthusiast.
7. Dance, Ramp and Acting-her favourite?
Basically dance is my soul. And acting comes from expressions while performing the dance number. For instance while doing “Kathak” you have to express a message through hand gestures as well as your facial expressions. Regarding modeling as I’m a dancer I love live performances so modeling is something I enjoy doing. But as a career I would like to advance with my dance academy by taking it nationwide.
8. Experience of the GP advertisement and how it was different:
Yes the GP ad is one of the best work I have done till date. It
was a three month campaign with countrywide billboard coverage which I hope enabled me to get a wider recognition. The story of the ad is very powerful where scope of our female entrepreneurs is illustrated combining the strength of technology. I have got an award called the “Saako telefilm” for this ad. Though dance and acting are not similar but for me dance helped me churn out my acting ability. But dance is physically more exhaustive.
9. Stage vs. working in front of camera:
I love working in front of camera but due to my academic commitment I cannot give time for 4 days at a stretch which is a common schedule for shooting drama. Regarding films I would like to work in a story which has never been told before.
10. Message to any upcoming talent:
Prioritize education and family first as they are your support system and fix your goal and have focus regarding what you want to be.
