From Prematal to No Land’s Man

It is not every day that one is invited to Tahsan Khan’s home, even if it is for an interview. It was a cold night, and as the hours were slowly ticking by, one could hear someone covering Prematal from the outside, a hit number originally performed by Tahsan himself.  “Must be a gaaye holud in the next building!” exclaimed Tahsan. Sure enough, the otherwise silent street was adorned with, not one, but three buildings with lights and decors, with blaring live covers by the glittery holud bands.

“I have realised that when you are starting out in life, you always go out of your way to prove yourself,” pondered Tahsan. “Twelve to fifteen years ago, I was busy proving to the world that I could write hit numbers. Eight to ten years ago, I was busy proving my acting abilities.”

In the early 2000s, not only had Tahsan Khan set out to become a famous singer, but had also gradually created a a place for himself in the television insuaret. Over the years, he evolved as an icon, where music and tele-fictions were concerned. Some of the TV fictions that he is still remembered for are Neel Pori Nilanjana by Shihab Shahin and Landphoner Dingulote Prem by Ashfaque Nipun, among many others. Today, he is one of the most sought after artistes for his talents as an actor, a singer and a musician.

Tahsan with Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

“I spend my time now thinking about the people and organisations who have, in one way or another, helped me reach this point of success in my life,” says Tahsan. “That is what my recent social media post was all about. The year 2019 has gifted me with so many positive activities. I tried to highlight some of them, if not all. From adventure filled corporate endorsements at exotic locations to cause related campaigns on bullying, from taking a walk down the memory lane with the original Black members at The Daily Star office for an interview to making memories with my daughter, from performing at different parts of the world to shooting my first English feature film - this past year was amazing, thanks to my family, friends, fans, big brands I work with and fellow journalists like you.” With the help of UNHCR, Tahsan had also visited the Rohingya camps in 2019, where he tried to learn and understand the conditions of an entire community who are now living as refugees in Ukhia.

Tahsan was the highest tax paying artiste in the country in 2019. “Gone are the days when opting for a music or film career was considered taboo,” he says. “Today, you have ways and pathways to do what you love to do and make a decent living as well. When I pay tax, it helps the country, in turn, helping me and others like me. Yes, it is a slow process, but the wheels have begun to roll. I dream to see a Bangladesh where artistes will be able to fend for themselves in times of crisis and I believe this dream will soon be true!”

2019 has also been special for Tahsan because of No Land’s Man. The upcoming film, written and directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, deals with identity, spanning over three continents. Starring critically awarded actor and one of the top actors in the world -- Nawazuddin Siddiqui from India, the film also features Tahsan. “Thankfully, all my scenes are with Nawazuddin, which is why we got an opportunity to bond closely,” said Tahsan. “Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a very humble person. I believe that because he is grounded, he is still able to soar higher, with regards to his acting career.” The English film is currently under production.

There is a saying which basically talks about how the sky should not be the limit and one can go beyond the limits if one worked hard enough and if one wanted to. A musician, actor, father and a teacher, Tahsan Khan, however, simply wants to relax and take one day at a time and do anything and everything that makes him happy. “I am also planning to write a poetry book,” he says. “Composing and writing lines and poetry came to me organically and I am focusing a lot on humane feelings like empathy. I want to the book at the Boi Mela of 2021.”