Popular Dhallywood actress Moushumi has been granted permanent residency in the United States, ending a wait of nearly three years. The actress herself announced the news of receiving her green card while attending a programme in the US organised to mark the founding anniversary of Channel i.
She moved to the United States in mid-2023 and has been living there since. Along with looking after her daughter Faiza’s education, the actress was also taking care of her ailing mother’s treatment. Despite being in the country for a long time, she reportedly faced restrictions on her movement in and out of the US because she did not hold a permanent residence permit.
Under the American immigration system, green card holders are granted the right to live and work in the country as permanent residents. They are also eligible to apply for US citizenship at a later date if they meet certain requirements. For Moushumi, the green card brings an end to years of uncertainty over her immigration status.
Moushumi Announces Green Card at Channel i Event
Moushumi shared the happy news with fans and well-wishers while attending the Channel i programme in the United States on Saturday. The announcement was met with joy by the Bangladeshi diaspora community, for whom the actress remains one of the most beloved figures of Dhallywood.
The actress has been a familiar presence at cultural events in the US, performing on stage and staying connected with her fans. Earlier this year, she delighted audiences by performing on stage alongside renowned singer Dinat Jahan Munni at a cultural event in New York’s Rockaway Beach in Queens, where she sang the iconic song “O Amar Bondhugo Chirosathi Pothcholar” from her debut film Keyamat Theke Keyamat along with its Hindi version, “Ae Mere Humsafar”.
She has spoken warmly of her life in the United States, where she lives with her mother, sister and daughter. She has continued to work alongside her family responsibilities, appearing in music videos, telefilms and films shot in the US.
Moushumi’s Three Years in the United States
Since moving to the US in mid-2023, she has balanced her personal life with her professional commitments. Her primary reasons for relocating were her daughter Faiza’s education and her mother’s medical treatment, both of which required her sustained presence in the country.
The lack of a permanent residence permit, however, placed restrictions on her ability to travel freely. For an actress whose career and family ties span Bangladesh and the United States, the green card represents not just legal security but the freedom to move between her two worlds without constraint.
Her husband, actor Omar Sani, has remained a pillar of support. The couple, who are among Dhallywood’s most enduring pairs, are blessed with two children — a son and a daughter. On her birthday earlier this year, Sani had expressed gratitude to fans and requested their prayers for the family.
Moushumi: Dhallywood Career and New Film Projects
Moushumi made her silver-screen debut in Keyamat Theke Keyamat in 1993 opposite the late Salman Shah, and their pairing went on to become one of the memorable chapters of 1990s Dhallywood. She went on to star in a string of blockbusters including Dola, Den Mohor, Ontore Ontore, Devdas, Matritwa, Desh Premik, Ammajan and Shukher Ghore Dukher Agun.
A three-time National Film Award winner for her performances in Devdas, Taarkata and Meghla Akash, Moushumi also turned director with the films Kokhono Megh Kokhono Brishti and Meher Nigar, both of which were appreciated by audiences and critics alike.
Even while living in the United States, she has kept her acting career alive. She has joined a new road-trip thriller titled A Beautiful Lie, to be written and directed by Noyeem Imtiaz Neamul, with whom she has previously worked in Bangladesh. Describing the project, Moushumi said it was essentially a road-trip story and a thriller in which everything happens around a lie. The project was initially planned as a telefilm but the makers are now considering developing it as a feature-length film, with shooting expected to begin soon.
Her recent film Ordhangini, directed by Syed R Saeed, opted for a direct YouTube release after plans for a theatrical release in both Bangladesh and the US fell through. Shot in New York and New Jersey under harsh winter conditions, the social and family-oriented film centres on Moushumi’s character.
With her immigration status now secure, Moushumi can look forward to shuttling between her commitments in the US and her enduring connection with Bangladeshi cinema — a career spanning more than three decades that shows no signs of slowing down.