Mahiya Mahi

Sharmin Akter Nipa (born 27 October 1993; known by her stage name Mahiya Mahi) is a Bangladeshi film actress and model. She was one of the highest-paid actresses of Bangladesh.

Mahi started her career in the film industry with the film Bhalobasar Rong in 2012, which was a commercial success. Since then, she has acted in several other films, including PoraMon (2013), Agnee (2014) and Desha: The Leader (2014). She has won several awards for her performances, including the Meril-Prothom Alo Awards for Best Actress in 2014. In December 2023, she announced her retirement from the acting career.

Background
Mahi was born on 27 October 1993 in Mundumala, Tanore Upazila in Rajshahi district. Mahi completed her SSC from Uttara High School and HSC from Dhaka City College. She studied in fashion designing in 2014 before switching universities in 2015.

2012
Mahi made her acting debut with Bhalobasar Rong in 2012, opposite to another debutante Bappy Chowdhury. Bhalobashar Rong is referred as the first Bangladeshi digital cinema according to Jaaz Multimedia. The film was declared as a huge financial success.

2013
In 2013, Mahi appeared in four films. Her first release was Onnorokom Bhalobasha. Again opposite to Bappy Chowdhury. Her next release was PoraMon, opposite to Symon Sadik. She was reported as "a new sensation" by all Bangladeshi media. The Daily Ittefaq and Asian TV program Movie Bazaar has declared Mahi as the best actress of 2013.

Her third film of the year marked her first collaboration with actor Shakib Khan as they were paired up in Bhalobasha Aaj Kal for the first time. The couple was received positive response from the audience and also the film received positive reviews and became as a superhit at box office upon release. Also, was highest-grossing film of Jaaz Multimedia production till Shikari (2016) released. The Daily Star noted about the film, "The Shakib Khan and Mahiya Mahi duo was adorable". New Age reported, "'Shakib-Mahi duo is very well-matched. Paired up with heartthrob Shakib Khan, Mahi won the hearts of the film lovers through her acting in Bhalobasha Aaj Kal". Her last release was Tobuo Bhalobashi, once again opposite to Bappy Chowdhury.

2014
Mahi's first release in 2014 is Ki Darun Dekhte. Her next and long-awaited movie Agnee, opposite to Arifin Shuvoo, is a women-centric crime thriller film. It became one of the most commercially successful films in Dhallywood history. Agnee brought Mahi 'Best Film Actress ' for the 1st time from Meril Prothom Alo Awards in 2014.

Dobir Saheber Songsar is the first comedy movie performed by Mahi. She played three roles at a time in this movie. It did average in the box office. Her Next film is "Honeymoon" with Bappy Chowdhury and director by Shafi Uddin Shafi. Honeymoon relies time of eid ul fitr & production house of Jaaz Multimedia.

Onek Sadher Moyna released on 7 November. It is the remake of film 'Moyna-Moti' of 1969 played by the legends Abdur Razzak and Kabori. The film did excellent in the box office.

In the film Desha: The Leader, Mahi plays the role of a journalist, opposite Shipan Mitra. For the first time she will be found as a lyricist in this movie.

2015
In 2015, she starred as Juliet in Romeo vs Juliet opposite Joey Debroy and Ankush Hazra, directed by Ashok Pati. She played the title role in Shafi Uddin Shafi's Big Brother, opposite Shipan Mitra and played the role of a journalist in Warning, opposite Arifin Shuvoo. Mahi also starred in Agnee 2, the sequel to Agnee. She became the brand ambassador of Unilever's beauty brand Fair & Lovely in April 2014.

2020-present
In late 2020, she played as an advocate in the Anonno Mamun's fictional courtroom drama Nabab LLB.

In 2024, she collaborate with Shakib Khan after 4 year of Nabab LLB (2020) with an extended cameo appearance as 65-year-old Khan's mother in Himel Ashraf's melodrama Rajkumar. Mahi's character received mixed reviews upon its release.

Politics
Mahi sought nomination from the Awami League to run from the Chapai Nawabganj-2 constituency for the 2024 Bangladeshi general election. But Awami League nominated the candidacy to the incumbent Md. Ziaur Rahman. Mahi then pursued as an independent candidate from the Rajshahi-1 constituency. But she lost the election, held on 7 January 2024, to the incumbent Awami League candidate, Omor Faruk Chowdhury.

Legal issues
On 17 March 2023, Mahi and her husband live-streamed a video on her Facebook page in which they made allegations against the police. When she returned to Bangladesh from Saudi Arabia the following day, she was arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by the Gazipur Metropolitan Police. She was charged under the Digital Security Act with of making 'false and defamatory' comments on social media, and in a second case with committing violence and extortion related to a land dispute. She was released on bail a few hours later.

Personal life
Mahi was first married to Mahmud Pervez Opu, a businessman from Sylhet, during 2016–2021. On 13 September 2021, she married Rakib Sarker, a businessman and politician from Gazipur. The couple have a son, Mosaib Arosh Shamsuddin Farish Sarker, aged 1 year, 3 months. On 16 February 2024, Mahi announced her divorce with Sarker on a video on her social media profile.