– I’m an entertainer. And, I love to dream and work hard to make them come true. Professionally, I can’t label myself as a barrister because I’m not practising right now. But, yeah, I’m qualified to be one.

I tried to make time for the entertainment business as well as my career in law. But I can’t be one of the best at something, if I’m constantly distracted. So, I sacrificed one for the time being.

I have a small business as well though.

 

2) How did this lockdown change your life?

– I guess this lockdown made me a family man which I always wanted to be. It wasn’t really possible for me due to all the commitments, but now I’ve spent almost 2 months with my family.

Working 18-19 hours a day used to be pretty hectic. I didn’t really get time to even talk to my parents properly. But now we’re a lot closer, which happened after approximately 18 years. So, I love it.

 

3) What is your opinion of the COVID-19 pandemic?

– There are a lot of things that you can control, but there’s also a lot that you can’t as human beings. I feel like the pandemic is a natural occurrence and it shouldn’t be a reason for us to be unfaithful to our craft as things will get back to normal someday and we should prepare for it.

 

4) Is there anything that you’ve discovered about yourself during the lockdown?

– I’d say it is perseverance. Usually, when there was a blunder, I used to stress out. But in the lockdown, I got to realise that some things just aren’t in our control and we shouldn’t fuss over them and rather focus on things that we can do something about.

 

5) How do you usually spend your Eid?

– I start it by waking up to my mom scolding me. Then I get ready in 10 minutes, and my dad and I walk to the mosque to perform the Eid prayers. I come home to my mom’s food.

Mostly I talk to my friends and meet a few of them. Then I go to meet 2/3 relatives of mine. And, then I have dinner with my family.

 

6) What is the one thing you won’t compromise on Eid day?

– It’d be the salaami. I still have that tendency to look forward to getting salaami on Eid. It seems to be a beautiful part of our culture.

 

7) Which part of Eid do you enjoy the most?

– When I was a kid, the best part was the freedom because in those days, we didn’t get to have freedom for the entire year. So, during Eid, I received money, and there was no limit to where I went. Also, I didn’t have to worry about studies, nobody did.

 

8) What do you miss the most about Eid that you used to do when you were younger?

– Passing the entire day with no responsibility. Now I have to go here and there, and connect with everyone. I am expected to spend time where I don’t even enjoy being or with people I don’t even like interacting with.

 

9) Which one was your most memorable Eid?

– When I was 10/12, my dad and I went to Baitul Mukarram. And, when I was done praying, I couldn’t find my dad. I started roaming around the entire mosque, asking people if they’d seen my dad. It didn’t occur to me that they don’t even know who my dad is. I couldn’t show a photo and didn’t have a phone either. I was there for 2 hours, but then I decided to take a rikshaw myself and come home.

My dad later came back when my mom informed him that I was at home. There were just so many people that he lost track of me. And being 10/12 is an awkward age when you’re not old enough to have a cell phone but you’re not young enough to willingly hold onto your dad’s hand either.

It was a scary one, but I won’t forget it.

 

10) What’s the highest amount of salaami that you have received in your life?

– I think it was around 10 thousand.

 

11) Have you ever contributed in making Eid better for the less privileged ones?

– It’s not just Eid, but on a regular basis, everyone has a right to get food, basic education, and primary healthcare. Of course, I feel bad for them, and Alhamdulillah I did grow up with privileges. But you can’t just go out and help each and every one.

What I try to do is I gather knowledge of those around me. There are people who ask for money but aren’t in dire need of it and there are those who need it desperately but won’t ask for it due to their self-respect or ego. I try to find those belonging to the second category and help them out.

I couldn’t give money in cash this time, so I used bKash or Nogod to contribute whatever I could.

 

12) Do you always spend Eid in Dhaka?

– We used to spend it in our village when my grandparents were alive. But, for the last 10 years we’ve been celebrating it in Dhaka.

 

13) Which Eid is your favourite and why?

– I love both of them. And, now I try to make the sacrifice on Eid-Ul-Adha myself.

 

14) What are the 3 best comments you have ever received?

i. “We see something different in you, so you should keep working hard and your fans will back you up.” – It was at the very beginning of my career.

ii. “You did a good job.” – My dad said that after watching my first film. He is my biggest critic.

iii. “Keep working as there are people out there who believe in you.” – When I was confused as to what to do with my career.

 

15) What are the 3 worst comments you have ever received?

i)  “You look like a monkey. You don’t deserve to be an actor.”

ii)  “You got everything due to your privilege and didn’t really earn it.”

iii) Constant body-shaming and my wife was bullied for marrying me.

 

 

16) Tell us something about yourself that your fans don’t know already.

– I sing a lot, all throughout the day, no matter what I am doing.

 

17) What would you like to tell the young generation who’d like to enter the industry?

– You are most welcome to.

If you want to be an actor because you like the fame, then that is not a good reason for you to become one. You should talk to your people who know you better than yourself as they will give you honest feedbacks.

If you have it in you and you are ready to struggle for a long period of time and make certain sacrifices, then become an actor. Go all in, don’t back out.

 

18) Do you support people follow a path like yours or would you recommend people to get a stable job?

– If you follow your dreams, you won’t feel like you’re going to work. You’ll look forward to showcasing your talent and enjoy yourself.

When people grow up, they always have this “What If” questions and regret not pursuing what they really wanted to when they were younger.

You shouldn’t drop out of college but rather study what you are really interested in. And no matter what people say, I think it’s nice to have a backup plan.

If you want to become a doctor or an architect, and it is something you want and is not based on other’s expectations of you, then you should definitely pursue becoming one.

 

19) What message would you like to share with your fans regarding the pandemic?

– Honestly, I don’t want to waste my time giving suggestions to those who are risking lives just to have fun. There’s no point in wasting my breath on people who do not understand the gravity of the situation even after getting decent education and access to the latest updates on the pandemic and death toll.

But those who are just depressed to be at home, I’d like to tell you that there’s just a few more days to go, that this won’t last forever, and to have patience.

When all of this is over, the world we will enter is going to be better than the one we’re leaving behind, so just hold on till then.

 

20) What’s the motto of your life?

– To get inspired and to inspire.

 

Bonus Rapid-Fire Round:

 

Pick one between:

1)  Barrister or Actor – Actor

2)  Bachelor Life or Married Life – Married Life

3)  Panjabi and Trimmed Beard or Kabli and Designer Beard – Kabli and Designer Beard

4)  Women in: Saree or Kameez – Saree

5)  Eid: without COVID-19 or with All Festivities – without COVID-19

 

 

What comes to your mind when you hear the following words:

6)  University Life – The best part of life

7)  Eid – Family

8)  Love – Forever

9)  Best Friend – Few of them

10) Bangladesh – Mother

11) Politics – Focused

12) Entertainer – Entertainment

13) London – Class

14) Wine – Red

15) Father – Everything