RAKSHANDA RAHMAN MISHA

There was a time when Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed found herself facing one of the most challenging phases of her life. In the middle of that chaos, theatre entered her world — offering a rare sense of hope and peace just when she needed it most.

“Theatre isn’t just close to my heart; it’s a reflection of my soul. I haven’t been involved in theatre for very long. I might have worked in one play before 2018, but my real journey began after that. During that turbulent period, my presence on screen became limited, and even stepping outside the house felt overwhelming,” shared the actress.

Nawshaba is currently starring in Siddhartha , directed by Reza Arif and produced by the theatre troupe Aarshinagar Dhaka. Based on Hermann Hesse’s acclaimed novel, the play features Nawshaba in the titular role of Siddhartha, a young Brahmin on a profound journey through wisdom, disillusionment, and ultimately, enlightenment.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Nawshaba reflected on how the play has helped her rediscover inner peace during one of the most challenging periods of her life.

“When I started working on Siddhartha , I was going through a lot mentally,” she said. “Around that time, I created Together We Can — my own group through which I offer art therapy to people with special needs. I wanted to use art to support their mental health. Since 2018, I’ve directed two or three productions featuring their stories and performed in different parts of Bangladesh.”

“While I was sitting and watching a rehearsal, Reza Arif sir suddenly told me to read for Siddhartha . I thought he meant only for the reading, but when he told me I would actually be playing Siddhartha, I became anxious. Siddhartha is traditionally a male character. When I asked him, ‘Why me?’, he simply replied, ‘Does Siddhartha belong to any gender? What does Siddhartha mean to you?’ I told him Siddhartha is a feeling. And he said, ‘Feelings don’t have a gender.’ After that, I never doubted it again.”

For Nawshaba, the play resonates far beyond her personal experience. “As a nation, we’re also going through a turbulent period. With everything happening around the world, the wars, the uncertainty — Siddhartha doesn’t just give answers; it also raises questions. It inspires you to love your life and helps you move forward. Siddhartha is not a destination; it’s a journey.”

This is the fourth edition of the play, with four shows scheduled from November 19 to 21. There will be two shows today — one at 4pm and another at 7:30pm.