I wanted to be a carpenter - Shajal
Abdun Noor Shajal has been involved in the entertainment business for over a decade. Although he started his career as a model, he soon became a popular actor with performances in one-hour TV plays and tele-films. Besides, he has ventured into films in the last few years. He is one of the faces on the small screen who doesn't do TV serials. The Daily Star recently caught up with the actor. Excerpts from the conversation:
You have not done TV serials for a long time. What's the reason?
Shajal: I have not acted in a TV serial in nine years. It's tedious to play the same role for a long time, and that is why I decided to not do any TV projects except one-hour plays and tele-films.
What are the upsides of doing one-off plays?
Shajal: Most of the time, it takes three days to complete filming for the play. There is opportunity to play different roles, and to portray the character perfectly, you get enough time to do your homework.
Did you always want to become an actor? What was your childhood dream?
Shajal: I wanted to be a carpenter when I was young. One time, carpenters came to make doors for our house, and I was fascinated by the work they did. It still makes me laugh.
Have you ever played the role of a carpenter on TV?
Shajal: I did, actually! After playing the role, I felt that in a way, my childhood dream came true.
You have portrayed a wide array of characters. Of them, do you have a favourite?
Shajal: It's very tough to pick one, because I have done many characters that are special to me. I once played the role of a beggar, and through the character I got to feel their hardship. I have played roles of a visually impaired person and a cart-puller, and these characters were really important for me as an actor.
You have been doing a few films recently. What's the dream with cinema?
Shajal: To be honest, there is no big dream. I just want to continue performing well. I never work to achieve any result. I take it as my duty which I have to do by any means. I recently did a film named “Harjit”, with Mahi. I hope that the audiences will receive it warmly.
Any fond memories you would like to share with us?
Shajal: When I was a student of Dhaka College, my friends and I used to hang out at New Market. I had a habit of reading books. I would buy books from a book shop there, and read them sitting in a corner. I recall those days fondly.