Behind Intekhab Dinar’s stellar performance in ‘Unoloukik’

With an array of popular television fictions under his belt, celebrated actor Intekhab Dinar has built a powerful presence on OTT platforms in recent years. From a convincing portrayal of a commanding chairman in "Taqdeer" to a whimsical fictional character in "Ovineta", he has made the best of his acting prowess. In "Dwikhandito", the final episode of the Chorki anthology series, "Unoloukik", Dinar aces an impeccable, breathless performance of over 20 minutes. He spoke to The Daily Star about his journey with the project, and more.

"Reading the script, I could not comprehend how a narrative of this nature could be made into a fiction. The team, however, surprised me. Their effort will be evident to the audience," Dinar asserted. He plays the character of Mostak Ahmed, a seemingly innocuous government clerk who unfolds a bizarre incident at a police station. "Dwikhandito" is adapted from a well-known story by writer Shibabrata Barman. "The production has a couple of long takes. I am not a method actor. So, it was important for me to spend time with the script to understand the ins and outs of Mostak," added Dinar, who spent at least five minutes of unaccompanied time with the script before each shot.

Dinar spent his early years in Mymensingh, and has been in Dhaka ever since. Seeing different theatrical productions during his prime, he decided to join stage plays to get closer to his favourite stars. "When I got into theatre in 1995, Nagorik Natya Sampradaya had the maximum number of popular actors," he said. "I could not resist it because I wanted to see them up-close." He enjoyed working backstage as a production manager, as well as in set and costume design teams. Slowly, he paved his way through memorable theatrical productions, television fictions, and films. He added that "Dwikhandito" has a theatrical quality to it, recalling a similar form of mise en scène in his unreleased film, "Shonibar Bikel (Saturday Afternoon)".

In his spare time, Dinar enjoys reading books and watching films. "I am not very choosy about types, when it comes to books, films, and music. However, if I am not hooked to something by the first 10 minutes, I do not force them on myself, even if they are classics," he said. "For films, the first watch is always for pleasure, as a general viewer. I watch a film multiple times when I want to take a better look at the specifics." Dinar regularly revisits his own work to evaluate himself. His recent performances have truly struck a chord with the audience. "I am a full-time actor, I play different roles on a regular basis. Intricate characters like Mostak do not come every day. But when I get such projects, I enjoy walking that extra mile. Hopefully, my efforts get conveyed to people," he concluded.

The author is an art researcher and writer in the making. Email: priyanka.chowdhury@gmail.com.