# Rafiath Rashid Mithila (মিথিলা)
**Rafiath Rashid Mithila** (রাফিয়াত রশিদ মিথিলা; born 1984), known professionally as **Mithila**, is a Bangladeshi actress, singer, model and development worker who works in both Bangladeshi and Kolkata-based Bengali cinema while holding a senior post in international early childhood development.[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/rafiath-rashid-mithila) She was the head of the Early Childhood Development program at BRAC International for roughly two decades before taking up a research role at Columbia University in the United States in 2026.[2](https://publisher.ntvbd.com/entertainment/news-1812949) Her best-known screen work includes the web series *Myself Allen Swapan*, the films *Kajol Rekha* and *Jole Jwole Tara*, and a Best Actress award at the 14th Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival for *O Abhagi*.[3](https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/rafiath-rashid-mithilas-versatility-shines-through-kajol-rekha-3604111)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Dhaka, Bangladesh[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/rafiath-rashid-mithila) |
| Professions | Actress, singer, model, development worker[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/rafiath-rashid-mithila) |
| Development career | About two decades at BRAC International, most recently as head of its Early Childhood Development program[2](https://publisher.ntvbd.com/entertainment/news-1812949) |
| Academic role | PhD in early childhood education at the University of Geneva; joined Columbia University as a researcher in 2026 and teaches nonprofit management as an adjunct assistant professor at the City University of New York[4](https://rtvonline.com/entertainment/231062) • [5](https://starnews.com.bd/entertainment/25094/mithilas-new-chapter.html) |
| Screen debut | Web series *Ekattor* (2020); film debut with *Amanush* (2022) in Bangladesh and *Aay Khuku Aay* (2022) in India[6](https://bmdb.com.bd/person/%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A5-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE/) • [1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/rafiath-rashid-mithila) |
| Major awards | Best Actress, 14th Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival, for *O Abhagi*; BIFA Best Actor (Film) - Jury for *Jole Jwole Tara* in 2024 and 2025[3](https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/rafiath-rashid-mithilas-versatility-shines-through-kajol-rekha-3604111) • [6](https://bmdb.com.bd/person/%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A5-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE/) |
| Marriages | Tahsan Rahman Khan (2006–2017, divorced, one child); Srijit Mukherji (married 6 December 2019)[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10507592/bio/) |
## Early life and education
Mithila was born in Dhaka.[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/rafiath-rashid-mithila)
Her education runs parallel to her development career. She completed a master's in early childhood education, and in a 2023 interview described herself as a PhD student in early childhood development, specifically early childhood education, at the University of Geneva, where she also gave a lecture in the university's summer program.[4](https://rtvonline.com/entertainment/231062) • [8](https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/the-marvel-mithila-3529071) A 2025 report stated she had by then completed the PhD at the University of Geneva.[9](https://www.anandabazar.com/amp/entertainment/rafiath-rashid-mithila-why-she-choose-college-job-over-her-acting-career-dgtl/cid/1638148)
## Acting career
**Television and web.** Mithila has described herself as "basically a television artist," acting in more than a hundred television dramas while working a full-time job, and shooting only on weekends and holidays.[10](https://dailyasianage.com/news/274013/commercial-films-dont-go-with-my-mentality-mithila) • [11](https://bangla.bdnews24.com/glitz/article1355436.bdnews) Her web series debut came with Hoichoi's *Ekattor* in 2020.[6](https://bmdb.com.bd/person/%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A5-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE/) She then played Shayla in Chorki's *Myself Allen Swapan*, a role she repeated in the second season, and the character brought her wide popularity; she credited director Shihab Shaheen with helping her build the layered character.[6](https://bmdb.com.bd/person/%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A5-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE/) • [8](https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/the-marvel-mithila-3529071) Other web credits include *Contract* (2021, as Rumana), *[Montu Pilot](https://www.edgepedia.org/montu-pilot)*, *Unoloukik* (2021, as Sicily), and *Baaji* (2024, as Jinia).[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/rafiath-rashid-mithila)
**Film.** Her big-screen debut came in 2022 with two films in two countries: Anonno Mamun's *Amanush* in Bangladesh and Sauvik Kundu's *Aay Khuku Aay* in India, the latter opposite [Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://www.edgepedia.org/prosenjit-chatterjee).[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/rafiath-rashid-mithila) In Kolkata she played the title role in Rajarshi De's *Mayaa* (2023), her first lead in a Tollywood film, loosely based on *Macbeth*.[12](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/rafiath-rashid-mithila-speaks-about-her-tollywood-debut-before-the-release-of-mayaa-dgtl/cid/1442498) In Gias Uddin Selim's *Kajol Rekha* (2024), an anthological film based on a [Mymensingh](https://www.edgepedia.org/mymensingh) ballad, she played Kankon Dasi, a role set four hundred years in the past that she prepared for at length; her performance drew praise from audiences and from veteran actress Suborna Mustafa.[3](https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/rafiath-rashid-mithilas-versatility-shines-through-kajol-rekha-3604111) • [6](https://bmdb.com.bd/person/%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A5-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE/) In Arun Chowdhury's government-funded *Jole Jwole Tara* (2025) she played Tara, a traveling riverbank circus entertainer, with scenes filmed on boats on the Kaliganga River.[13](https://d11.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/knife-was-thrown-inches-away-my-body-mithila-3812391) She has also signed for the title role in *Meghla*, directed by Arbab K Middya.[14](https://cinebuzztimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16th-issue-all-pages_compressed-1.pdf)
Mithila has said she chooses roles selectively because her job takes priority, and that feminist stories draw her; she declined commercial film offers for years for this reason.[10](https://dailyasianage.com/news/274013/commercial-films-dont-go-with-my-mentality-mithila) • [12](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/rafiath-rashid-mithila-speaks-about-her-tollywood-debut-before-the-release-of-mayaa-dgtl/cid/1442498)
## Development work and academia
Mithila worked at BRAC International, the international development organization, for about two decades, rising to head of its Early Childhood Development program.[2](https://publisher.ntvbd.com/entertainment/news-1812949) In that role she oversaw the full portfolio of programs across countries in Africa and Asia, designing programs, leading teams, and working with disadvantaged children and their parents; her projects ran in six African countries and required frequent international travel.[4](https://rtvonline.com/entertainment/231062) • [10](https://dailyasianage.com/news/274013/commercial-films-dont-go-with-my-mentality-mithila)
In October 2026, Bangladeshi media reported that she had left BRAC after the two-decade chapter and joined Columbia University in the United States as a researcher, while also teaching nonprofit management as an adjunct assistant professor at the [City University of New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/city-university-of-new-york); she thanked BRAC for its contribution to her professional life.[2](https://publisher.ntvbd.com/entertainment/news-1812949) • [5](https://starnews.com.bd/entertainment/25094/mithilas-new-chapter.html) • [15](https://dailyinqilab.com/entertainment/dhallywood/946652) She has also taught at a university in Bangladesh and at an American school.[4](https://rtvonline.com/entertainment/231062)
## Writing and music
Mithila sings, writes lyrics, and composes; she was a playback singer for the 2009 film *Third Person Singular Number*, and has said she now sings only privately while practicing guitar.[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/rafiath-rashid-mithila) • [4](https://rtvonline.com/entertainment/231062) She writes a children's travel-story series, *Aira ar Mayer Obhijaan* ("Aira and Mother's Adventures"), based on travels with her daughter for readers aged five to eight, with two stories published as of 2023.[4](https://rtvonline.com/entertainment/231062)
## Personal life
Mithila married singer-actor [Tahsan Rahman Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/tahsan-rahman-khan) in 2006; the marriage ended in divorce in 2017, and they have one daughter, Ayra Tahreem Khan.[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10507592/bio/) • [16](https://www.thedailystar.net/tags/rafiath-rashid-mithila) She has said the two remained friends after the divorce and that their friendship gave their daughter a healthy life.[17](https://www.anandabazar.com/app/entertainment/actress-rafiath-rashid-mithila-talks-about-her-life-career-and-her-friendship-with-tahsan-rahman-khan-dgtl/cid/1288498) On 6 December 2019 she married Indian film director [Srijit Mukherji](https://www.edgepedia.org/srijit-mukherji).[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10507592/bio/) She lived in Kolkata for about three years while working in Tollywood before returning to Bangladesh.[8](https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/the-marvel-mithila-3529071) • [9](https://www.anandabazar.com/amp/entertainment/rafiath-rashid-mithila-why-she-choose-college-job-over-her-acting-career-dgtl/cid/1638148) Bangladeshi singer [Shayan Chowdhury Arnob](https://www.edgepedia.org/shayan-chowdhury-arnob) is her cousin.[1](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/rafiath-rashid-mithila) In 2022 a Dhaka court granted her permanent bail in a fraud case filed over her involvement with the e-commerce platform Evaly.[16](https://www.thedailystar.net/tags/rafiath-rashid-mithila)
## Recognition
Mithila won Best Actress at the 14th Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival in India for *O Abhagi*.[3](https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/rafiath-rashid-mithilas-versatility-shines-through-kajol-rekha-3604111) The Bangla Movie Database lists her as a BIFA Award winner in 2024 and 2025 in the Best Actor (Film) - Jury category for *Jole Jwole Tara*, and as nominated for the 2025 Meril-Prothom Alo Award for Best Actress (Web Series) for *Myself Allen Swapan*.[6](https://bmdb.com.bd/person/%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A5-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE/)
## References
1. [Rafiath Rashid Mithila, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/rafiath-rashid-mithila)
2. [ব্র্যাকের ২০ বছরের অধ্যায় শেষে কলাম্বিয়া বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে মিথিলা, NTV Online](https://publisher.ntvbd.com/entertainment/news-1812949)
3. [Rafiath Rashid Mithila's versatility shines through 'Kajol Rekha', The Daily Star](https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/rafiath-rashid-mithilas-versatility-shines-through-kajol-rekha-3604111)
4. [মিথিলা এক হাতে সব সামলান, RTV Online](https://rtvonline.com/entertainment/231062)
5. [মিথিলার নতুন অধ্যায়, Star News](https://starnews.com.bd/entertainment/25094/mithilas-new-chapter.html)
6. [রাফিয়াথ রশিদ মিথিলা, Bangla Movie Database](https://bmdb.com.bd/person/%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A5-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE/)
7. [Rafiath Rashid Mithila Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10507592/bio/)
8. [The marvel that is Mithila, The Daily Star](https://www.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/the-marvel-mithila-3529071)
9. [অভিনয় ছেড়ে কিসের টানে শিক্ষকতা করছেন রাফিয়াত রশিদ মিথিলা?, Anandabazar](https://www.anandabazar.com/amp/entertainment/rafiath-rashid-mithila-why-she-choose-college-job-over-her-acting-career-dgtl/cid/1638148)
10. [Commercial films don't go with my mentality: Mithila, The Asian Age](https://dailyasianage.com/news/274013/commercial-films-dont-go-with-my-mentality-mithila)
11. [ব্যক্তিগত জীবন নিয়ে বলার সময় হলে আমি নিজেই বলবো: মিথিলা, bdnews24](https://bangla.bdnews24.com/glitz/article1355436.bdnews)
12. [Rafiath Rashid Mithila speaks about her Tollywood debut before the release of Mayaa, Anandabazar](https://www.anandabazar.com/entertainment/rafiath-rashid-mithila-speaks-about-her-tollywood-debut-before-the-release-of-mayaa-dgtl/cid/1442498)
13. [A knife was thrown inches away from my body: Mithila, The Daily Star](https://d11.thedailystar.net/entertainment/tv-film/news/knife-was-thrown-inches-away-my-body-mithila-3812391)
14. [Mithila's New Film, Cinebuzz Times](https://cinebuzztimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16th-issue-all-pages_compressed-1.pdf)
15. [মিথিলার জীবনে নতুন অধ্যায়, একাধারে গবেষক ও শিক্ষক, Daily Inqilab](https://dailyinqilab.com/entertainment/dhallywood/946652)
16. [Rafiath Rashid Mithila](https://www.thedailystar.net/tags/rafiath-rashid-mithila)
17. [আমার আর তাহসানের বন্ধুত্ব আয়রাকে সুস্থ জীবন দিয়েছে: মিথিলা, Anandabazar](https://www.anandabazar.com/app/entertainment/actress-rafiath-rashid-mithila-talks-about-her-life-career-and-her-friendship-with-tahsan-rahman-khan-dgtl/cid/1288498)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Bangladeshi screen actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license