In a candid conversation with The Daily Star, the multifaceted actor opens up about returning to theatre where he first made his name.

You started your journey in theatre. How does it feel to return to stage after such a long time?

Theatre is where I belong -- this is my home and this is where I first realised that I have truly became an actor. Due to my busy schedules, I had to stay away from the stage. My last performance with my group, Aranyak Natyadal, was in the drama "Joy Joyonti". Apart from that, I would also occasionally perform with the group for the drama "Ora Kodom Ali".

I will finally be returning to stage once again with a new drama titled "Jonoker Ontrojatra" at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Currently we are busy with the rehearsals but we are scheduled to go on stage in December, added the actor.

The television veteran also shared his excitement on relinquishing his passion for stage once again.

The sheer experience of working in theatre is quite different from working in any other medium. Theatre is the only platform where you can experience audiences' reaction directly.

You were infected with Covid-19, and were admitted to hospital. You have returned tele-fictions recently. How did you prepare yourself for coming back to the stage?

It is true that acting in television and theatre is quite different. On stage, you need to deliver the dialogues in front of the audience, and for that, you need to have a strong presence. Thanks to everyone's prayers and blessings, I was able to recover early and come back to acting.

As an artiste, I get a sense of satisfaction working in the stage and as I love theatre, I am able to pursue my passion whole-heartedly. I think I am quite prepared to hone that aspect of me again.

How do you think theatre helps someone become a better actor?

Theatre acts as a basic medium for you to polish your acting skills. One can truly learn the crafts of acting by working in the theatres. There is no alternative to stage. Just like a student needs to go to school for his education, an artiste can maneuver his artistic skills only in theatres.

Do you feel like television viewership has dropped over the years?

Earlier on, people used to watch only one channel. Now we have many options for channels. Most of the channels showcase different kinds of content.

I feel like the viewership has been divided – and so it feels like the viewership has decreased. However, that's not really the case at all. Viewers are busy watching dramas in different channels, which cater to their choice.

What does acting truly mean to you?

Acting is my first love. It is something that runs within my blood, and I think of it has an act of devotion. If you want to become a true artiste, you need to channel all your passion and energy in it.

Translated by Rakshanda Rahman Misha