Watch out for Ferdous Ahmed in tonight’s episode of Late Night Coffee, a TV show which will be telecast on Channel 9 tonight at 12:01am. Ferdous is a renowned Bangladeshi actor and a frequent face in both Bangladesh and West Bengal films. He became notable first as a television actor and then as a film actor in the mid 1990s. He acted in more than two hundred films, both in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India and debuted in the film Hothat Brishti, an India-Bangladesh co-production.
Ferdous who also a part-time model owns a film production house Nuzhat Films which is all set to produce its first film named Ek Cup Cha. Recently, Dhaka Tribune caught up with the actor on his recent ventures:
When you are going to release the film Ek Cup Cha?
Although the film is all set to release, we still haven’t decided on the exact date. I am hopeful about the film as it contains inclusive matters which will make the audience theatre oriented.
Tell us about the director of the film.
Naim Imtiaz Neamul directed few television dramas under the banner of my production house earlier and, as I have faith on his works and dedication, I assigned him for the film. I am really impressed by his work and I hope the audience will appreciate this young director. Neamul tried to make something different which goes with the taste of the audience.
The cinemas from West Bengal are now battling with Bollywood films but cinemas from Bangladesh are still fighting to create its own space. What are the shortcomings of films here?
In West Bengal, from a regular shooting unit crew to the director or producer, everyone honours their work. Literally they just worship their profession. Suppose, the shooting call is set at 5am, it will start exactly on the call time. Meanwhile in Bangladesh, sometimes we delay for 2 to 3 hours. Film related personnel have to increase their dedication. Also, technological barriers and inadequate scripts are creating such situations. Dedication and earnestness are prerequisites for making good films.
Who is your co-actor in the film?
Mousumi, she is a good friend of mine and a tremendous actor. At first I thought of Rituporna, but her inability to be present at the shooting continuously abstained me to put her in the lead role. Rituporna appeared in a key guest role.
You won the National Film Award (NFA) for three times. How does it feel?
I got my first National Film Award for my role in Basu Chatterjee’s Hotath Bristi. Subsequently, I worked in many good films and Wahiduzzaman Diomond’s Gangajatra won me the second award. This award enhanced my dedication and lately, I got another NFA for acting in Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzer’s Kusum Kusum Prem.