Not one to settle for a single identity, Ananta Jalil has often made headlines for the various roles he played since his emergence in the industry: as an actor, producer, director, screenwriter, songwriter and brand ambassador. The actor opened yet another chapter in his career as he turned anchor for a celebrity show – “Face to Face: Ananta Jalil” – this past Eid-ul-Azha.
The show, consisting of seven episodes, brought on stage film stars like Emon, Nirob and Pori Moni as well as politicians, including Asaduzzaman Noor and Hasanul Haque Inu. Below is an excerpt of an interview that Ananta Jalil gave to Bangla Tribune.
Why did you choose to be an anchor?
I have to face a lot of questions when I attend television shows. But I have some questions of my own too, and I wanted to ask them as an anchor. Questions that I wanted others to answer. So when Desh TV made me the offer to host a show, I accepted it without a second thought.
Is there a chance that you’ll be seen regularly as an anchor?
You see, successful people don’t confine themselves to doing only one thing. They multitask. God sent me on this world and it will be unwise of me to occupy myself with only one job. I want to carry out all my jobs simultaneously.
What’s behind Ananta Jalil making the impossible possible?
Anyone in Bangladesh can make the impossible possible. But not everyone becomes an example. What I mean to say is, there lives an Ananta Jalil in every person.
What about your new film?
I will act in “The Spy: Agrojatrar Mahanayok,” but there are two upcoming film projects in which I will not work; I will produce them only. New faces will be featured in those films and even the director will be a new one. Anyone interested to work can come up with short videos as proof of how good they are at their jobs. Further details in this regard will be forthcoming shortly.
So you are not going to direct those films?
No, I’ll not have time for that. Even I am having second thoughts about directing my next film – “The Spy: Agrojatrar Mahanayok.” To just act in a film you don’t have to think much. You can get right back to your work once the shooting is done. But, for directing, well, it involves a lot of extra work and storyboarding to do. I am not sure if any Bangladeshi director makes films this way. I hear Kolkata’s Satyajit Ray used to have his plans sketched out.
Is there a particular dream of yours that you want to see fulfilled?
I went to Japan a few days ago. They use robots to help do their jobs. I am going to open a new factory named AB Apparel. It will be divided into four sectors, including one using the help of robots. The project is already under way.