Bangladeshi actress Jyotika Jyoti breaks down in Facebook Live, claims she has been blacklisted from acting

Bangladeshi actress Jyotika Jyoti broke down in tears during a Facebook Live on Monday evening, alleging that she has been unable to secure acting work for a long time because she has been “blacklisted” by influential groups.

Visibly emotional, the actress said she has been struggling with severe mental distress, online harassment and financial hardship.

During the live session, Jyoti said she feels “helpless” and claimed she has endured continuous trolling, personal attacks and abuse on social media.

She also alleged that the challenges have extended into her professional life, preventing her from receiving new acting opportunities.

According to the actress, an influential group has deliberately kept her away from work, although she did not identify anyone by name.

She claimed that industry “grouping” has made it nearly impossible for her to find new projects, leaving her largely confined to her home.

Appealing to the current government, she said, “Please bring this to an end.”

Jyoti’s political stance has remained a topic of discussion in Bangladesh for some time.

She was reportedly a member of the widely discussed “Alo Ashbei” WhatsApp group and has long been identified as a supporter of the Awami League.

Following the 2024 student-led mass uprising, she has claimed to have faced increasing difficulties because of her perceived political position.

This is not the first time the actress has publicly expressed her distress.

In September 2024, while serving as Director of the Research Department at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, rumours circulated on social media claiming that she had been confined inside her office.

Responding through another Facebook Live, Jyoti gave her account of the incident.

At the time, she said she had been advised not to report to the office because of the prevailing situation but chose to attend out of professional responsibility.

Upon arrival, she encountered a tense environment and later spoke with the academy’s Director General, who advised her to leave for her own safety.

Jyoti recalled that while collecting her personal belongings before leaving, she tried to speak with people gathered outside her office but said no one was willing to talk to her.

Fighting back tears, she remarked, “The faces I once knew felt completely unfamiliar that day.”

In her latest Facebook Live, the actress claimed she has had almost no acting work for the past two years.

She alleged that she has been subjected to persistent online harassment, abusive comments and personal attacks throughout that period.

She also spoke about financial difficulties, saying she has at times had to rely on financial support from her parents, which has further affected her emotionally.

Jyoti further alleged that the harassment intensified after 2024, claiming she became the target of misinformation campaigns, threats and cyberbullying because of her political and ideological beliefs.

She also claimed that legal cases had been filed against her and said security concerns prevented her from moving around freely for an extended period.

According to the actress, the situation has severely affected her career.

She claimed that several people have told her they are afraid to work with her, leaving her acting career virtually at a standstill.

“I cannot go to people asking for work. I cannot compromise to get work. My life has become like hell,” she said during the livestream.

Jyoti also appealed to the current government to help end what she described as her prolonged ordeal.

She added that the constant mental pressure has also taken a toll on her physical health.

Toward the end of the livestream, the actress became visibly emotional and said, “I am helpless. I’m sorry I had to show my weakness like this. But I have no strength left. I feel like I may never be able to stand up again.”

Jyotika Jyoti entered Bangladesh’s entertainment industry after participating in a beauty pageant in 2004.

Holding a master’s degree in English literature, she has built a career across television and cinema, starring in acclaimed productions including Ayna, Nandito Noroke, Jibondhuli, Anil Bagchir Ekdin, Maya: The Lost Mother, Lal Moroger Jhuti, and the Indian Bengali film Rajlakshmi O Srikanta.