National Film Award-winning actress Sadika Parvin Poppy has once again become the subject of discussion and criticism on social media, with an old comment of hers about her acting career resurfacing. Amid the controversy, actor Omar Sunny posted a message on Facebook to defend the honor of the film industry and clarify his own position.
In his post, Omar Sunny described religion and profession as separate matters. “The way Poppy’s comment is being framed isn’t right, if that’s really what she meant. Religion and profession are two separate things — the work itself is halal, so religion doesn’t even enter into it,” he wrote.
While Omar Sunny criticized Poppy’s remarks or the sentiment behind them, he also spoke up firmly in defense of the film industry’s honor.
He made clear that earning an honest living by working in film is neither a crime nor anything immoral. He said the honesty and halal labor of people in the entertainment world deserve far more respect than that of many illegal businesspeople or those involved in criminal activity in society.
Omar Sunny’s post also touched on his and Poppy’s respective trips to Mecca and Medina. “No one can go to Mecca and Medina without Allah’s will, but Allah has called us,” he wrote, adding a Bengali idiom roughly meaning: those who understand will understand, and those who don’t, won’t.
Addressing Poppy directly at the end of his post, Omar Sunny wrote: “She’s still like a younger sibling to me. Take care, Poppy.”
In an earlier video message, an emotional Poppy had hinted at stepping away from acting, saying she had withdrawn from everything. She said she wanted to spend the rest of her life in peace, stay well, and spend her time in remembrance of God.
Poppy’s recent comments about her acting career and past journey have resurfaced in public discussion, sparking a wave of debate and criticism online.
Omar Sunny played the lead opposite Poppy in her first released film, “Kuli,” in 1997.
The two went on to work together in several films, including “Jagat Sansar.”