Basar perseveres through setbacks
Even after Eid, the festive spirit hasn't faded. While the excitement around film releases continues, small-screen projects are still making their way to audiences.
Among the most featured actors, Khairul Basar stands out, starring in 15 projects that are being released one after another. So far, seven have premiered, including "Golper Naam Maya" directed by Shetu Arif, "Shohore Joto Rong" by Syed Shakil, "Manush Ki Bolbe" by Ashikur Rahman, "Payel" by Sayful Hafiz Khan, and "Jodi Amar How" by Serniabat Shawon, among others, while others are on the line.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. In the productions mentioned above, Tanjin Tisha, Tanjim Saiara Totini, Keya Payel, Orchita Sporshia, and Safa Kabir have respectively starred opposite Basar.
"'Golper Naam Maya', 'Shohore Joto Rong', and 'Manush Ki Bolbe' have received a strong response among those released. 'Payel', on the other hand, stands out visually – it has impressive cinematography," shared the actor.
Reflecting on his favourite projects this Eid, Basar said, "'Manush Ki Bolbe' is special to me as its plot feels particularly relevant today. We often worry too much about what others think or say about our actions. In doing so, we tend to lose sight of what's right and what truly matters. This is a serious concern, and we must act according to our conscience rather than public opinion."
Basar returned in front of the camera immediately after the Eid break, joining a shoot in Sreemangal for yet another project. His schedule is already booked until the third week of May for Eid-ul-Azha projects. "I will be working with Vicky bhai (Vicky Zahed), Pothik Shadhon, Serniabat Shawon, and Ishtiak Ahmed Rumel—so far, we've locked in the dates."
The actor has been equally appreciated on both OTT platforms and the silver screen, notably for "Mohanagar" and "Kajol Rekha", respectively. However, in recent times, he has been focusing more on small-screen projects. "It's not about the medium, it's the work that truly matters," he said. "People recognise me wherever I go, and that's largely thanks to my appearances on television. I feel truly blessed. Once, an elderly lady told me she had never been a fan of dramas until she saw one of mine. Since then, she's followed my work regularly. What more could I possibly ask for?"
As a matter of fact, the actor revealed that he had been dropped from several OTT projects, as the platforms opted for other artistes. "I was tied up with the shoot for Masud Hasan Ujjal's 'Bonolota Sen' for nearly 18 months, and during that period, I couldn't take on any additional work. Later, I was confirmed for a couple of projects, but, regrettably, at the eleventh hour, I was informed that—despite the director's preference—I had been replaced due to the platform's demands. Such decisions are truly disheartening."
Upon asking when he would return to the silver screen, he shared that the production company would better know when his films will appear. Some of his projects lined up are—"Bonolota Sen", "Sharey Tin Haat Bhumi", and a short film "Moutali Pithar Ghran".
Basar believes the market for commercial films is steadily expanding, and this Eid, films like "Daagi", "Borbaad", "Jongli", and "Chokkor 302" truly resonated with audiences. "Although I usually take on, or am offered, projects with more archival value, I recognise the importance of a thriving commercial film industry for its overall growth. Moreover, I think we need to focus more on stories of resilience, narratives rooted in humanity—not merely those driven by violence, but ones that appeal to the conscience and speak to our sense of discernment."
Meanwhile, the actor is set to begin work on Tanvir Mokammel's upcoming project, which is based on a popular piece of lyrical poetry by the beloved rural poet, Palli Kabi Jasim Uddin. Filming is scheduled to commence this October.
As our phone conversation neared its end, Basar briefly asked to hold the line. Returning moments later, he shared with a smile that a young man had approached him during the call, patiently waiting to take a selfie with his favourite actor. "It's these small gestures from people that give me a reason to smile," said the actor. "As an artiste, I feel fulfilled."
Comments