Mithila's New Life

Maintaining a successful career in acting while being a mother and an active voice for women empowerment may sound like a tall order for many, but for Mithila it's a lifestyle. Having recently completed her Master's Degree and earning a Vice Chancellor's Gold Medal from BRAC University, she is the epitome of talent and hard work. In this exclusive interview with Star Showbiz, Rafiath Rashid Mithila talks about her recent life choices, perceptions of women in the society and her goals for the future.

We have taken every step to ensure that everyone knows the decision was mutual. It's a very personal choice for sure, and only we know what kind of situation we have been through to force us to make this decision. If you ask me to reflect back on this, I have to say that I went through a very difficult part of my life and it was an extremely difficult decision for me to make. Thus I have to reminisce a lot of struggles I have been through which I honestly do not want to do. At this point I just want to move on with my life.

There was a huge backlash, especially in the social media. Nowadays you can stay anonymous and say whatever you want online. No one bothers thinking about the consequences their words can leave behind, and this is why I think we are becoming very insensitive as people. There were many people who left irrational and insensitive comments. Despite that, there were a lot of people who were behind our decision, understood it, and supported it. 

I am someone who doesn't let negativity come near me. I am a positive person and I want to spread positivity. The negative comments did hurt me at first, but after a point I put a mental block around myself. I know those things won't bring any positivity to my life. My family and friends will always be behind me, but not those negative people.

With the rise of social platforms like Facebook and information sources like Google, there is definitely a confused segment of population who do not know what to believe in. I myself see comments and reactions posted in my own official Facebook fan-page and I feel that people are misguided by them. But there are also people who are educated and can make a sound judgment.

I received the mental strength I needed from my parents. Gaining that took me a lot of time. We lived separately for 2 years and I took all the time I needed to make myself emotionally stronger. At first I was weak, I used to cry a lot and I was vulnerable. My parents and colleagues supported me that time. My daughter has been a huge support for me too.

I don't do everything; I only do the things I like. Thanks to my parents I learned acting, dancing and singing at a young age. My main profession is being the Head of Early Childhood Development and Girl's Education in BRAC International. When I get the spare time I involve myself in acting because I like doing it. What I have been doing a lot recently is working with women and children rights. 

Yes, I do. Feminism is essentially belief in equal rights. Feminists are people who do not support discrimination, crime, rape or violence. The term itself does not mean working for women only. But of course since this is a patriarchal world, there is more work to be done for improving the status of women in society. In this society, women are not taught how to be strong from childhood. We are only taught to be educated, and then get married. But thankfully, my mother has always told me to dream bigger. She taught me to stand up on my own two feet. The barriers a girl has to overcome since childhood; be it at education, at husband's home after marriage, or at workplace, each stage of life is like war. I think I have fought that war since childhood.

Definitely. The directors and producers I work with know very well that I am well aware of my rights. I do ask them to pay female artists the same as male artists. I also claim that asking for equal wages is a rational thing to do.