Entertainment Desk:

Celebrities often face criticism for even the smallest slip-ups, a phenomenon amplified in today’s social media age. Recently, actors Runa Khan, Mehazabien Chowdhury, and Tanjin Tisha found themselves at the centre of controversies for different reasons. However, during a recent award show, they all addressed the issues head-on and clarified their positions.

Runa Khan became a target of online trolling after attending a special screening of the film “Priyo Maloti.” A video showing her hugging director Shankha Dasgupta and actor Shahjahan Samrat went viral, attracting criticism from netizens. Many also mocked her outfit. Addressing the issue, Runa said, “Positivity and negativity exist everywhere. Sometimes, it’s just about the camera angle. The way I was captured made it look awkward, but that’s not the reality. The viral video is one such case.”

Defending her actions further, Runa explained, “We were so moved after watching ‘Priyo Maloti’ that those of us who attended couldn’t help but embrace the director and the two lead actors. Shahjahan Samrat has been my co-worker for years. For those in theatre, landing a lead role after years of playing small parts is a big deal. Only actors like me, who’ve worked in minor roles, will understand that emotion. As long as Samrat understands the depth of my feelings, I don’t need the rest of the world to.”

Mehazabien Chowdhury, who made her big-screen debut with “Priyo Maloti,” faced backlash after a photo went viral showing her sitting on the stairs of a cinema hall, watching her own film. Many mocked her for this. She explained, “My seat was right in front, and an important scene was playing as I arrived. Rather than walking in front of the screen and disrupting everyone, I waited for the scene to end. Someone took a picture of that moment and posted it on Facebook. Now I’m wondering, was it wrong of me to sit on the stairs to avoid disturbing the audience?

Meanwhile, Tanjin Tisha has been embroiled in a more serious controversy, with rumours linking her to a drug scandal. Reports surfaced that the Department of Narcotics Control had launched an investigation into several actresses, including Tisha.

She remained silent amidst the growing criticism but recently addressed the matter at the event. Tisha stated, “Before knowing the truth, when people write baseless things about an artist, does anyone consider what that does to them? Acting is our profession, but we also have personal lives. We have families, parents, siblings, and false news or negative headlines affect them too. I lost my father three years ago, and I’m still grieving. Yet, in some way, I feel relief that he isn’t here to witness the toxicity on social media today. Let’s stop this. Let’s allow people to live in peace.”