The New Sultan

Bappy Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi film actor who made his debut in Dhallywood back in 2012 with the movie “Bhalobashar Rong”. His other hit movies are “Lover Number One”, “Ajob Prem”, “Ami Tomar Hote Chai”, “Sultana Bibiyana” and “Apon Manush”. Despite being a relatively new talent in the industry, Bappy is one star that has never failed to shine bright. In this exclusive interview with Star Showbiz, Bappy Chowdhury gives us an insight into his professional life, personal life, and talks about what it takes to be an actor in this industry.

Are you currently engaged in any projects or films?

Yes, at present I am currently working in a film under a new director named Billal Sunny. I will be acting alongside Jolly. It is a science-fiction movie with a touch of horror and mystery. The movie is an extortion of the fact that there are places in the world which are still a mystery to us. Production is going well and I am happy with the progress we have made so far.

Could you tell us a bit more about your recent movie “Sultana Bibiyana” that you have been commended for?

“Sultana Bibiyana”, in my opinion, was a movie that was completely flawless. Every now and then you see so many Bengali movies come out, but there were things that made those movies criticized and panned. “Sultana Bibiyana” is a movie with no such inaccuracies. A well-written script, on-point acting, proper directions and so much more made the film as successful as it should be. The audience appreciated the movie, and as an actor that is what you want to see in your film. Even though the movie didn't do that well commercially, as an actor, I am mentally content with it. Anywhere I go nowadays, people call me by the name 'Sultan Bhai'. This is because the audience connected so much with the character I played in the movie, and I think this is bigger than an award that claims to measure your success. Funnily enough, in an upcoming movie of mine, I have been given to act as a character named Sultan. You see, the viewers habituate themselves with a character so much that they are used to seeing Bappy Chowdhury as 'Sultan'.

ou are seen as a romantic actor for most viewers. Do you think they would be able accept you in an 'action-hero' persona?

The movie “Apon Manush” is an example of how accepting our audience is. After “Sultana Bibiyana”, I was really worried whether the audience would be able to take in the role that I have played in “Apon Manush”. The role in this movie was completely different than the one that I have played in the former. To be honest, the movie was produced with the objective of being a commercial success, and it turned out to be so. It's amazing to think of just how many people went out and watched this movie. After “Apon Manush”, I finally realized that the audience wants to see me in more diverse roles.

What are your hobbies or what do you like to spend your time on, apart from your professional works?

I barely get time for myself when I'm working on a project. Shooting takes 16 hours daily and at the end the day I become exhausted and tired. But even then I try my best to spend time with my family which is what I love to do. I spend most of my free time watching TV shows and movies.

What are the dynamics to be successful as an actor in our industry?

First of all, the person in question should have good looks. The audience wants someone who is more pleasing to the eye and more attractive. Second, that actor should have to watch a lot of movies to learn the different aspects of acting. That is how I did it, and I still do that. You cannot act in a movie without knowing about the many technicalities that are involved within the process. Proper acting requires months to understand and develop. In addition to that, there are dance scenes and fight scenes that will take over a year to master. So, my advice is to not rush into movies looking for success immediately. Everyone should think of the long-term vision of their career, and what they can give to the audience over a longer period of time.