Yesterday, it was announced that eminent actor Masud Ali Khan would be receiving the Ekushey Padak—the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh. This came to fruition after industry regulars voiced their support for the artiste after The Daily Star published the report, "93-year-old Masud Ali Khan has no regrets".

However, the actor has not been able to work for the last four years. Yet, audiences still love Masud Ali Khan for his performances in timeless dramas like "Kul nai Kinar nai", "Ei Shob Din Ratri", and  "Kothao Keu Nei". The multifaceted star masterfully crafted his presence in three mediums, as he mesmerised audiences in radio, theatre and movies.

In a conversation with The Daily Star, the Ekushey Padak-winning actor opened up about his life.

You have finally been announced as an Ekushey Padak recipient. What was your first reaction to the good news?

Honestly, first and foremost, I am grateful to my lovely wife—who has tolerated me for so long. At times, I remember returning from shooting very late. She never complained about my tardiness. Instead, she kept warm food for me and waited for hours to see me enter our home. She has sacrificed a lot for me and this means the world to her. 

When I first received the news about the award, my wife was not at home, as she was visiting the doctor. She was the first person to come to my mind when I got to know this wonderful news. After that, I remembered my beautiful parents, who have never stopped me and have always told me to pursue my passion. I also miss my son, who is abroad with his family.

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93-year-old Masud Ali Khan has no regrets

Many entertainment personalities came forward to ensure that your hard work was acknowledged. This came after The Daily Star published a news article about you.

I am forever grateful to The Daily Star and to you, for writing about me. Nobody thought about me until now. However, after your thoughtful piece, people began to realise my contributions and nominated me for the prize. I am thankful to the government for giving me the honour.

What were your feelings after winning the award?

It's such a surreal feeling that I cannot put it into words. I cannot explain how happy I am right now. I want to thank the government and all my colleagues for always supporting me and for also giving me this award. After my name was revealed in the list, almost all of my colleagues called me up and congratulated me. This really feels good.

When did you realise that you wanted to be an actor?

I think it was around the time when I was in class two or three, when my father took me with him to Kolkata, to watch a film. At that time, it was just a film for me as the acting bug didn't attack me fully, However, when I finally came to Dhaka with my uncle and watched the film, "Jibon Moron", it changed my life as the movie was forever imprinted in my heart. I knew instantly that I wanted to be an actor and from that day onwards, I started to act in school plays and later on fully started staying in Dhaka to pursue my passion for acting.

What was your first movie?

My first film was "Nodi O Nari", where I starred alongside talented actors like Kazi Khaliq and Dr Rawshan Ara. The shooting took place in Padmar Char. The memory of the shooting days are still fresh in my heart. I remember I watched my film for the first time in Gulistan Hall and I felt that I needed to improve my acting.

Does it hurt to stay away from acting?

It hurts that I can't act at this age. As an actor, not being able to act is the biggest pain ever. Nowadays, I only watch TV dramas as that is the only way I can remain connected to showbiz.

Do you have any regrets in life?

I don't have any regrets as an artiste, however deep down I feel guilty that I can't contribute anything to acting now.

What are your expectations for the future?

Honestly speaking, all I want right now is to have a peaceful death like Dr Enamul Haque.