Jaya Ahsan

Early life

Ahsan was born to A. S. Maswood (d. 2012) and Rehana Maswood in Bangladesh. She has a younger sister and brother. Along with her formal education, she took a diploma course in Rabindra Sangeet and training in classical music. She first appeared on television when she performed in the teledrama Panchami. She modeled for a calendar which caught the eye of Afzal Hossain, who later offered her work on a promotional advertisement for the soft drink Coca-Cola. Afterwards, she left modeling and continued with her studies. She joined the newspaper Bhorer Kagoj, a national daily. After a brief stint at a children's school, she returned to modelling. Thereafter, she worked in Giasuddin Selim's Shongshoy. She also practices crafting and painting, which she demonstrated in art house productions like Enechhi Shurjer Hashi.

Career

Television

Ahsan first appeared on television in an ad for Coca-Cola in 1997. She debuted her acting career on television through the drama Panchomi, written by Shahidul Haque Khan.

Having begun her career as a model in the late 1990s, Ahsan has since worked in numerous television dramas and serials. She established her reputation as an actress with roles as Monika in Labonyo Probha, Pushpo in Toukir Ahmed and Bipasha Hayat's teleplay Shonkhobash, and in Hatkura. She found Hatkura, set on the edge of a village in Rangpur District, a challenge. "I had to learn the dialect of Rangpur for the role. Actually, I had never been to a village before that. And it was a completely new experience for me", she said. In Channel i's 2010–2011 serial Choita Pagol, she played the role of rural woman Alta. Ahsan said, "Alta is one of my favourite characters. I liked playing the role." Her performance in Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's Tarporo Angurlata Nondoke Bhalobashe also cemented her position as an actress. She portrayed various characters in teledramas including: Sixty Nine (69), Tevaga, Shahortolir Alo, Tarpor Paruler Deen, Amader Choto Nodi, Mayesha, Jostna, Nodi Othoba Roshider Kichu Kolpo Drisyo, Amader Golpo and many more.

Ahsan played the role of a sex worker in the television play Tarporo Angurlata Nando Ke Bhalobashey in 2009.

Film

Ahsan debuted her film career as a guest artiste in the film Bachelor (2004), directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. As the lead actress, she debuted in Nasiruddin Yousuff's film Guerrilla (2011). Adapted from the novel Nishiddho Loban by Syed Shamsul Huq, the film was based on the events of the Bangladesh Liberation War. It narrates the tale of Bilkis Banu, played by Ahsan, a freedom fighter, who actively participates in the Liberation War while searching for her lost husband. The film won National Film Awards in ten categories, including the Best Actress Award for Ahsan.

Ahsan's second film, Chorabali (2012), was an action thriller directed by Redoan Rony. She portrayed Noboni Afroz, a journalist, and won her second National Film Award for Best Actress Award.

In 2013, Ahsan acted in an Indian Bangla film titled Aborto, directed by Arindam Sil. She was nominated for the Filmfare Awards East for Best Debut Performance Female for her role in the film. She also received an official invitation to attend the 66th Cannes Film Festival. In the same year, she appeared in Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini, a Bangladeshi romantic film directed by Shafi Uddin Shafi. It was her first Bangladeshi film in collaboration with Shakib Khan. They both starred in its sequel, Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini 2, released in 2015.

After a one-year break Zero Degree was her next venture. The film is a psychological thriller written and directed by Animesh Aich and was released on 15 January 2015. Ahsan won a National Film Award for best actress for her performance in the film. In 2015, Ahsan worked in two other Indian Bangla films — Rajkahini based on the 1947 east and west Bengal separation directed by Srijit Mukherji and Ekti Bangali Bhuter Goppo, a psycho-horror film directed by Indranil Roychowdhury. Ekti Bangali Bhuter Golpo was set for a world TV premier in Kolkata on 17 May in Zee Bangla Cinema. Jaya's much anticipated Rajkahini starring alongside Rituparna Sengupta, Abir Chatterjee, Parno Mittra, Sohini Sarkar, Rajatava Dutta and many others was released on 16 October 2015.

In 2017, Ahsan acted in Bishorjan alongside Abir Chatterjee and Kaushik Ganguly directed by Kaushik Ganguly himself, for which she received awards including Filmfare Awards (first Bangladeshi to win so), Zee Cine Awards and BFJA Awards for her performance portraying the character of Padma. In the same year, Jaya was honoured with the ABP Ananda Sera Bangali for achievement in acting. Her other two releases that year are Akram Khan's Khacha: The Cage and Manoj Michigan's Ami Joy Chatterjee.

In 2018, Ahsan performed in a courtroom drama Ek Je Chhilo Raja based on the historic Bhawal case directed by Srijit Mukjerji in a star cast including Jisshu Sengupta, Aparna Sen, Anjan Dutt, Rudranil Ghosh and others. She was also seen in Crisscross alongside Mimi Chakraborty and Nusrat Jahan, directed by Birsa Dasgupta. Debi, a film based on Humayun Ahmed's novel, was released on 19 October 2018. It is directed by Anam Biswas, starring Chanchal Chowdhury, Ahsan and Sabnam Faria in the lead roles. The film was produced by Ahsan, as her first production from her production house C Te Cinema. She received her fourth National Film Award for Best Actress and her seventh Meril Prothom Alo Award for Best Film Actress (Critics Choice) for her performance in this film.

In 2019, her first release was Kaushik Ganguly's Bijoya, sequel to Bishorjan for which she won the Tele Cine Awards for Best Actress and Best Jodi alongside her co-star Abir Chatterjee. Then she was seen in Arnab Paul's debut Brishty Tomakey Dilam, a psychological thriller based on split personality disorder. She received the 'Dashobhuja Bangali 2019' award from the St. Xavier's College Calcutta Alumni Association. Next she did Konttho which released on 10 May directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee starring Shiboprosad Mukherjee himself, Paoli Dam where Jaya plays the role of a speech therapist. After that she teamed up with Atanu Ghosh for his movie Bini Sutoy alongside Ritwick Chakraborty. Jaya again worked with Atanu Ghosh next film titled Robibar starring with Prosenjit Chatterjee for the first time. She has finished Soukarya Ghosal's fantasy horror Bhootpori and is shooting for Kaushik Ganguly's next titled Ardhangini starring alongside Churni Ganguly. She wrapped up filming Alatchakra, the first 3D Bengali movie directed by Habibur Rahman based on the novel by Ahmed Sofa. She then worked with Piplu Khan on his first feature film Jaya Aar Sharmin based on the current pandemic.

In December 2023, Ahsan made her Bollywood debut in Kadak Singh, a thriller film by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury released on Zee5. Hindustan Times regarded her performance in the film as "Outstanding on OTT: Breakout Performance".

In 2025, Jaya Ahsan starred in two Eid-ul-Adha releases—Raihan Rafi's action-thriller Taandob and Tanim Noor's Utshob.

Playback

Ahsan is also a singer and took diploma courses in Indian classical music and Rabindra Sangeet. She did playback in few films, such as "Tomer Khola Hawa" in Dubshatar and "Jongoler Daak" in Mesidona.

Other activities

Ahsan is a craftswoman and a visual-artist, which she demonstrated in art-house movie productions like Enechhi Shurjer Hashi. She was chosen as a brand ambassador for USAID (US Agency for International Development) to help women and children. In 2019, Ahsan was chosen as the brand ambassador of Bangamata U-19 Women's International Gold Cup.

Personal life

Ahsan married television model Faisal Ahsan Ullah on 14 May 1998. They appeared together in television commercials and jointly ran an event-management company. The couple divorced in 2012. Joya Ahsan still uses her ex-husband’s surname, “Ahsan,” despite the separation.

Media reports speculated a romantic relationship between Ahsan and director Srijit Mukherji during the filming of Bishorjan (2017). The duo was reported to be dating before Mukherji married actress Rafiath Rashid Mithila in 2019.

Filmography

Films

Web series

• Paanch Phoron
• Jimmi (2025)

Television

Series

• Amader Choto Nodi
• Choita Pagol
• Coffee House
• Dorjar Opashe
• Enechhi Shurjer Hashi (2004)
• Labbonno Probha
• Mone Mone
• Manush Badal
• Neer
• Polayon Porbo
• Sixty Nine (69)
• Shonkhobash
• Shomporker Golpo
• Shongshoy
• Tebhaga

Telefilms

• Amader Golpo
• Americana
• Ami Tomake Bhalobashi
• Aunuposthit Chinho
• Anonto Adhora
• Bikol Pakhir Gaan
• Bhalobashi Tai, Bhalobeshe Jai
• Bumerang
• Cheri-Phuler Name Nam
• Chondrabotir Lottery
• Chor O Novelist
• Daliya
• Denjru
• De Dour
• Ebong Autopor
• Ebong Bonolota Sen
• Ferar Poth Nei, Chilo Na Kono Kale
• Fifth Anniversary
• Gorambhath Athoba Nichok Bhooter Golpo
• Ghum Ghar
• Grohonkal
• Ghum
• Halloween
• Horton-er Bibi
• Hutkura
• Jononir Kanna
• Jostna, Nodi Othoba Roshider Kichu Kolpo Drisyo
• Jaal
• Journey By Boat
• Jontro-Na
• Koyekti Neel Rongpencil
• Kingkortobbo
• Kuashar Bhitor Mrittur Shomoy
• Kuhok
• Maya Athoba Mrittur Galpo
• Madhobi Upakkhan
• Mayesha
• No Mans Land
• Na Komola Na Meherjaan
• Nirjon Shakkhor
• Neel Botam
• Nokkhotro Ghas Chondro Mollikar Raat
• Off Beat
• Obak Sondesh
• Oshomapto Ghor
• Panjabiwala
• Poth Geche Beke
• P.O.Box
• Projapoti
• Raajkonna
• Shohor Tolir Alo
• Shomporker Dana
• Sambala
• Tarpor Paruler Din
• Tarporo Angurlata Nandoke Valobase
• Traceless
• Topur Cycle
• The Facebook

Awards and nominations

National Film Awards

Meril Prothom Alo Awards

** Bachsas Awards **

Filmfare Awards Bangla

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

Zee Cine Awards

Tele Cine Awards

**International Bangla Film Critic Award **

** ABP Ananda Sera Bangali Award**

**Dhaka International Film Festival **

** Lux Channel i Performance Award **

** CJFB Performance Award **

** Charuniram Award **

**Zee 24 Ghanta Binodoner Sera 24 **

Notes

References

References

1. link. Kaler Kantho. (December 2019)
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3. (20 May 2017). ""Bapjaner Bioscope" sweeps Nat'l Film Awards '15". The Daily Star.
4. (2020-12-31). "Highlights of 2020". The Daily Star.
5. link. Anandabazar Patrika. (25 February 2013)
6. "My mother is the best". Prothom Alo.
7. Shah Alam Shazu. (3 December 2010). "An ever-evolving career". The Daily Star.
8. (28 September 2004). "I am more of the slow and steady kind --Jaya". The Daily Star.
9. (13 August 2009). "Jaya Ahsan becomes a 'Princess'". The Daily Star.
10. Shilpi Mahalanobish. (31 December 2003). "An eventful year: Jaya Ahsan". The Daily Star.
11. (21 April 2011). "Guerrilla". The Daily Star.
12. (17 March 2013). "Guerrilla bags 10 National Film Awards". The Daily Star.
13. Shah Alam Shazu. (30 September 2011). "Jaya pairs up with Indranil Sengupta". The Daily Star.
14. (1 October 2013). "National Film Awards 2012 finalised". The Daily Star.
15. (2 March 2013). "Jaya essays Charu's role in 'Aborto'". Priyo.
16. "Jaya Ahsan: 'Debi' narrates woman's insecurity in Bangladesh". The Times of India.
17. "Jaya Ahsan all set to produce her next film". The Times of India.
18. (20 October 2018). "Film Review: 'Debi' is worth the hype". Dhaka Tribune.
19. "Jaya Ahsan bags Bangladesh National Award for fourth time". The Times of India.
20. Sen, Debolina. (6 January 2019). "Bijoya Movie Review". The Times of India.
21. (2023-12-24). "Jaya Ahsan named amongst 'breakout performers' by Indian media". The Daily Star.
22. (2025-06-16). link. Prothom Alo
23. (2020-05-08). link. Zee News
24. link. Anandabazar Patrika
25. Mahmuda Afroz. (6 October 2006). "aya-Faisal: Heart to heart". The Daily Star.
26. Shilpi Mahalanobish. (31 December 2003). "An eventful year: Jaya Ahsan". The Daily Star.
27. Ghosh, Baswati. (7 December 2022). "একটা নদীর মতো 'সম্পর্ক'". Ei Samay.
28. (8 July 2023). "Srijit-Jaya working together after 5 years". Dhaka Tribune.
29. (2023-07-11). "I've known Jaya Apa for longer, even before Srijit: Mithila". The Daily Star.
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31. "Bristi Tomake Dilam Movie Review". The Times of India.
32. বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়, বিনায়ক. "মুভি রিভিউ: 'কণ্ঠ'-এ জীবনই পারে মৃত্যুভয় অবজ্ঞা করতে". Anandabazar Patrika.
33. (2019-11-11). link. The Indian Express
34. "Jaya Ahsan's film 'Alatchakra: Circle of Desire'". Dhaka Tribune.
35. "Binisutoy Movie Review: ঋত্বিক-জয়া জুটির এ ছবি স্বপ্ন আর বাস্তবের পার্থক্য বোঝায়". Sangbad Pratidin.
36. Akbar, Zahid. (2022-09-29). "'Beauty Circus': The Liberation War weaved into clever storytelling". The Daily Star.
37. "Jhora Palok Movie: Showtimes, Review, Songs, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos {{!}} eTimes". The Times of India.
38. (2019-11-12). "The shoot of Ardhangini has started!". The Times of India.
39. (2023-07-05). "Jaya Ahsan to replace Subhashree Ganguly in Srijit Mukherji's upcoming film Dasham Avatar". The Times of India.
40. "Trailer of Jaya's debut Hindi film 'Kadak Singh' unveiled at IFFI". Daily Sun.
41. link. Kaler Kantho
42. (2024-01-19). "Jaya Ahsan starrer 'Bhootpori' trailer hints mystical twist". The Daily Star.
43. link. Janakantha
44. "‘সব প্রতিশ্রুতি মিথ্যা, কেউ পাশে থাকে না’ গৃহকর্ম সহায়িকার সঙ্গে কোন সম্পর্কে বাঁধা পড়লেন জয়া?". Ananda Bazar.
45. "Jaya's 'Dear Maa' sets release date". Dhaka Tribune.
46. (July 2025). "Jaya-starrer 'Putul Nacher Itikotha' to be released on Friday". Daily Sun.
47. (2023-11-26). "Jaya Ahsan's debut Iranian film receives major accolades". The Business Standard.
48. Arts & Entertainment Desk. (2026-01-02). "Jaya Ahsan’s ‘OCD’ releasing in February".
49. (17 August 2004). "Generating awareness on health issues through drama serial". The Daily Star.
50. (1 July 2019). "Happy Birthday Jaya Ahsan: All That You Need to Know About the Critically Acclaimed Bangladeshi-Bengali Actress". [[News18.com]].
51. (25 June 2020). "Jaya Ahsan". The Times of India.
52. (4 April 2021). "Jaya Ahsan". The Times of India.
53. (17 December 2019). "Jaya finally revealed her age". Daily Bangladesh.