Rafiath Rashid Mithila

Rafiath Rashid Mithila (born 25 May 1981) is a Bangladeshi actress, singer and development worker known professionally by the mononym Mithila. Besides her film work in both Bangladesh and Kolkata, India, she is the head of the Early Childhood Development programme in BRAC International.

Early life and education
Mithila went to Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She earned both her bachelors and masters degrees in political science at the University of Dhaka. She then completed a second masters in early childhood development at BRAC University, winning the Chancellor's gold medal. She earned a B.Ed. degree from the National University in Bangladesh. She went on for further studies in the United States, studying "Contemporary Approaches to Curriculum: Instruction and Assessment" at the College of Education and Human Development of the University of Minnesota in 2010. She currently pursuing a doctorate in Early Childhood Education at the University of Geneva.

Besides academic work, Mithila has studied Kathak, Manipuri, and Bharat Natyam dance at the Dance Academy of the Benuka Institute of Fine Arts in Bangladesh. She also received training in Nazrul Geeti, or the study of songs written and composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet of Bangladesh, at the Hindol Music Academy. She studied art at the Nandan school, and exhibited her oil paintings at a Drik Gallery group exhibition. She was a child actor at the People's Theatre, Bangladesh.

Audiovisual media
She began her modeling career in 2002, while she was still at university, with the fashion house Neelanjana Palli. Her acting career was launched when she starred in the television drama Shunchen Ekjon Radio Jokeyr Golpo in 2006. She also appeared in TV commercials, and became a brand ambassador for many products. She was a model in music videos, and also acted in various dramas and telefilms. In 2022 she made her feature film debut with Bangladeshi film director and screenwriter Anonno Mamun in the film Omanush, co-starring with Nirab Hossain. She then appeared in director Sauvik Kundu's Aay Khuku Aay in India, sharing the screen with Prosenjit Chatterjee. She hosted the celebrity talk show Amar Ami on Banglavision.

Academics and work in early childhood education
Mithila was on the faculty of the English Literature and Language, Scholastica International School, Dhaka. Then she served as a guest lecturer in the Department of Early Childhood Development of the Institute of Educational Development at BRAC University in 2017. She was also a lecturer for English Language and Foundation courses at the Northern University Bangladesh. Mithila currently works as the head of Early Childhood Development at BRAC International. She works extensively in some African countries. She has been an active contributor to the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Swayam in West Bengal, India. She is a member of Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC) and South Asia Forum of Early Childhood Development Professionals (SAFECDP).

Personal life
Mithila was married to the singer Tahsan Rahman Khan from 2006 until 2017, during which they had a daughter born in 2013. She married Indian film director Srijit Mukherji in 2019. Bangladeshi singer Shayan Chowdhury Arnob is her cousin.

Books

 * Into Tanzania's Island (Bengali: Tanzaniyar Dwipe) ISBN 978-984-95319-4-4
 * Searching Lion in Africa (Bengali: Afrikay Singher Khoje) ISBN 978-984-96105-5-7
 * First day at School (Bengali: School er Prothom Din)
 * Red Balloon (Bengali: Laal Balloon)
 * Ayra and Mother's Adventure (Bengali: Ayra aar Maaer Obhijaan).