“Theatre is who I am…” Shajjad Rajib on his 16-year journey with Dhaka Theatre

Shajjad Rajib, a seasoned theatre actor who has also ventured into television, began his career on the stage at an early age. He has been part of prominent theatre troupe Dhaka Theatre for the better part of two decades, and in a conversation with The Daily Star, spoke about his journey and aspirations. Exceprts:

"When I was preparing for my Honour's examinations, I saw an ad on a newspaper by theatre group Somoy Sangskritik Goshti. I was there for about a year but the group slacked off and I still hadn't learned a lot about real theatre."

"I saw a flier on the notice board of Charukola (Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University) that said Dhaka Theatre was hiring. From that noticing of the flier till now, Dhaka Theatre has been my entire life."

"I remember clearly -- I was watching a rehearsal of 'Prachya. Involuntarily, I began crying. And the only thought that struck my mind then was 'This is theatre. This is what I have been looking for. I wanted to act, and this was it. I had finally found it.'"

One of Shajjad's first shows was a street play called "Mrittu Shongbad", where he played a substitute character. His next role came in the much-acclaimed production, "Muntasir". Kamal Bayazid, who used play the titular role, was the first person to appreciate Shajjad's work in words. "All he did was pat on my back and say, 'Good job Rajib.' That boost meant the world to me."

After that, Shajjad worked in Selim Al- Deen's "Nimojjon". By the time the play developed from a script on to be projected on stage, the senior-most actors had become momentarily inactive. "Us juniors, and some immediate seniors worked on the play. It was during that production that I realised that once you live the character, you don't have to act. It comes naturally," Shajjad recalls.

After "Nimojjon", he did Selim Al-Deen's "Dhaboman", under Shimul Yusuff's direction. "Dhaboman" is about the relationship between an animal and human. "Through that play, I learned how pure and unconditional a relationship can be," Shajjad says.

"Theatre has changed my views, my beliefs, and made me a better person. I used to finish all my day's work as fast as possible, just to be able to attend rehearsals. It has disciplined me, helped me prioritise, and affected my lifestyle in every way. From my head to toe, inside and out, theatre is who I am."

While working with productions like "Tempest", "The Outsider", and the most recent "Our Country's Good", Shajjad had become a slightly inactive member. "I ventured out into television acting, but it's not that I am completely inactive. But those 10 years that I regularly attended rehearsals were the golden years. Working in the place where the great people like Nasiruddin Yousuff, Suborna Mustafa, Humayun Faridee, Pijush Bandyopadhyay, Shimul Yusuff, Afzal Hossain created their identity reminds me every day that I am blessed."

Currently, Shajjad is working in two television serials, "Chhanyachhara", directed by Rajibul Islam Rajib on Banglavision, and "Baro Ghore Ek Uthan" of the same director, set to air on ATN Bangla. There are also some one-hour drama fictions that he has worked in, and is regularly working as a voice actor for the upcoming Duronto Television.

Shajjad believes that if theatre would support him financially, he would not venture out in anything else at all. "People have started paying for shows now, but that doesn't apply for every theatre troupe. Maybe it's not a big amount, but it has begun. Maybe in the next 10 years, a full-fledged career in theatre can become a reality. Theatre has overcome so much. We can overcome this too."