BAPPARAJ

Bapparaj established himself in the film industry with films like 'Boner Raja Tarzan', 'Pagleer Prem' and 'Jibon Simante'. Over the years, he has allured the masses with his acting prowess. In this interview with Star Showbiz, the actor opens up about his life.

A CINEMATIC JOURNEY

My acting career began in 1986, with my father's directorial venture, Chapa Dangar Bou. I always had the desire to work in cinemas, but never knew when to begin. It was only after my higher secondary examination, I acted in my debut film, and embarked on a career as an actor. However, I would not say that I am disengaged from acting right now, but truth be told, our industry is not making stories on the sort of characters I prefer playing. Besides, nowadays, directors only cast those actors who are already in the limelight, and other actors like us in the industry are often looked over. This is why I am not being able to work regularly.

PAST REFLECTIONS

Life is about experiencing moments, and I have made so many memorable ones. I feel elated and get nostalgic every time I look back to my past. It is very difficult to talk about only one experience, but among all the unforgettable recollections, my time in Cox's Bazar, shooting for Boner Raja Tarzan, stands out. During our stay, actor Omar Sani was also there shooting for another film, and he was staying right next to my hotel room. Every morning, he used to go out to the balcony, and show-off his workout regime. So, one day we all decided to put him in an awkward situation by paying him a sudden visit during one of those sessions. Upon seeing us, he was shocked, and his face turned pale. Even now, when I meet Sani, we still have a great laugh about that day.

TRUE SUPPORTER

My father's guidance has helped me nurture my acting skills, and wherever I am today, is because of his love, motivation and encouragement. He is my biggest inspiration.

TROUBLED TIMES

It is only natural for the new artists to work hard to make a place for themselves. But, the industry is currently going through a rough phase. We lack directors who would take the risk of working with newcomers. Besides, they are still struggling to promote the artists who have been working for a long time. So, I really do not have any particular advice for the rising stars. I think the current time is not in favour of them to reach success.

INTERESTS

I have always had a huge attraction towards cars. I love driving, buying, selling, and even modifying old cars. Whenever I have any leisure time, which I don't often, I enjoy watching movies, looking after my younger brother's kids and spending time with my family. I also spend a lot of time managing my business.

UNFULFILLED DESIRES

I am grateful to Almighty Allah because I have no unfulfilled desires left in life. My lifestyle is very simple, so my wants and needs are very limited. I am not attracted to superficial things, so I am happy with what I have. I think if someone is happy with what they have, they wouldn't have any unfulfilled desires left.

FILMMAKING

Filmmaking is something I have always been interested in. I want to make movies, but it seems, time is an adversity now. I have made one film, and after taking account of the time, situation and business, I might make more. But, I won't be making films anytime soon.

CURRENT STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

We are all responsible for the industry's current state. The quality of the films and the environment in our cinema halls might be some of the main reasons behind the deterioration of our film industry. People are still forced to follow the way films were made in the past. For our industry to prosper, we have to move forward with time. We have to make proper use of the technology and resources available to make good films.

Interviewed by Akhand Jahid

Transcribed by Ridwan Intisaar Mahbub