Entertainment Desk:

Lights, camera, controversy! Bangladesh’s telly darling Samira Khan Mahi has set tongues wagging and keyboards clacking with a sizzling social media storm that’s got the nation hot under the collar.

The actress, known for her glamorous roles and TikTok triumphs, has sparked a firestorm by branding “most of the men” in Bangladesh as “sexually frustrated” after a cheeky comparison to adult film star Mia Khalifa.

Grab your popcorn, because this drama is juicier than a mango in monsoon season!

It all kicked off when Mahi, ever the style maven, posted a snap on Facebook rocking a sharp green blazer and a pair of scholarly spectacles. The look was pure office chic – think boardroom boss with a dash of Bollywood flair. But some mischievous netizens saw more than just a power suit.

They cheekily juxtaposed Mahi’s photo with one of Mia Khalifa, dubbing her “Bangladesh’s Mia Khalifa.” The internet, as it does, erupted into a frenzy of memes, giggles, and raised eyebrows.

Not one to let the trolls have the last laugh, Mahi clapped back on August 14 with a Facebook post that was equal parts sass and class. “Some people may feel differently after seeing a pair of glasses, but for me, it’s just part of the office look,” she wrote. “There’s no need to look at every outfit or posture irrelevantly. Style should be enjoyed as it is.”

Fair enough, you’d think but Mahi wasn’t done yet. In a scorching interview with a vernacular daily, she turned the heat up to eleven, declaring, “Most of the men in our country are sexually frustrated!” Oh, behave!

Mahi didn’t mince words, tearing into the “stupidity and rudeness” of the comparisons. “An artist can upload many types of pictures,” she fumed.

“People can make various comments about them. But this kind of nonsense is unacceptable. Earlier, they created unnecessary criticism about my colour and the clothes I wear! Now a glass, a reading glass! Such thoughts shouldn’t come to the mind of a healthy person except a sexually frustrated one.”

She went on to address the Khalifa comparison head-on: “Many are saying, ‘Mia Khalifa, Mia Khalifa.’ She’s different, she has a profession, her life is different, what she does or doesn’t do is her decision. She lives in another country. We have nothing to worry about her. Comparing me with her isn’t the problem, but doing it in a negative way – that’s my objection.”

The 28-year-old star, born Farjana Yesmin Koly in Lakshmipur, has never been one to shy away from the spotlight.

A first runner-up in the 2014 Rang RTV Colours Model Search, Mahi has built a glittering career in telefilms, dramas, and online videos, amassing over two million TikTok followers with her lip-syncing and dance moves.

Her recent role in the drama Bokul Phool earned rave reviews, and she’s already diving into her next project, a serial called Khushboo.

But it’s her off-screen bravado that’s stealing the show this time.

Mahi’s no stranger to controversy. Her bold fashion choices and vibrant social media presence have long drawn both adoration and scrutiny. Yet, she remains unfazed. “These things don’t affect my confidence at all,” she told the Bengali daily. “I’ve seen both the best and worst times of my life. In the profession I’m in, these seem to be part of my career. If there’s a lot of progress, there’ll also be a time of decline.” Spoken like a true queen who’s weathered the storms of fame and come out shining.

The irony? Mahi’s thriving despite the shade. Her Khushboo serial is generating buzz, and her social media following is only growing. She’s a savvy operator in the digital age, turning controversy into clout with the ease of a seasoned pro. Whether she’s strutting in a sari or slaying in a suit, Mahi knows how to command attention. And that, dear readers, is the real scandal: a woman who refuses to be boxed in by outdated norms, serving looks and serving shade in equal measure.