OTT platforms are a blessing for our entertainment industry: Afran Nisho

Photo: Collected

Afran Nisho is one of the most celebrated names in the showbiz industry. The multi-talented actor has become popular among the audiences over the years, for his accurate portrayal of diverse characters on the television screen. Recently, the "Chirokal Aaj" actor has also become prominent in the world of OTT, with his breakthrough performances.

In a candid interview with The Daily Star, the versatile actor opened up about his journey as an artiste and how he believes that OTT can be the next big platform for the entertainment industry.

Some people want to be stars, while others wants to be known as artistes. What do you truly want to become?

That's a good question. Earlier on acting was only my passion, but now it has turned into my profession. Acting is what I do to earn my livelihood and that is something that I want to pursue further.

As I chose this path of acting, I used to ask myself in the beginning of my career whether I wanted to be a hero, a star or simply just an artiste. And in that moment I immediately knew that I wanted to be an artiste by heart. I am in love with acting and that's something that has been fervor till date. Now its upto the audience how much they truly appreciate my acting.

You started your career as a model, and then shifted to acting. Within last few years you were able to enact a range of diverse characters. How were you able to do so?

There is a major misconception that models cannot act. As I had no experience in theatre, I felt like I have faced a major setback in my acting career already.

The turning point in my career came when I got to meet the legendary actor and my idol, Humayun Faridee, and interact with him on a personal level. He was the first person to observe that I was not expressive at all!

One day he gave me an advice that totally changed me as an actor.

He told me to observe anything and everything that went on around me. Since then, I started to address him as my "acting institute". His words gave me the inspiration to work hard and get into the skin of the character by observing the part thoroughly. Through my persistence and determination, I was finally dive deep into my roles.

With the current surge of streaming platforms in Bangladesh, what do you think about OTT's future?

OTT platforms are opening new opportunities for the production of big budget projects and films. I will say that it is a blessing for our industry. And I am hopeful that it will revolutionise the showbiz industry for good by showcasing quality productions.

Directors consistently try to cast hit pairings together in television, to generate more views. Your pairing with Mehazabein is one such pairing that is popular in tele-fictions. What is your take on the idea of portraying popular pairs together for work?

Pairing is a crucial part planning any project. If you are a good actor, but your co-artiste is not able to deliver the dialogues properly, then you will not be able to engage the audience as much. If you have a good understanding and co-ordination as a reel life pair, then the acceptance of your performance doubles up among the audiences.

Notable pairs such as Afzal-Subarna, Razzak and Kabori, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol have left an indomitable presence into the mind of the viewers. People remember them for their spellbinding chemistry. The art of pairing is something that's very sweet and special and through it, one is able to create unforgettable memories for the audiences.

Many have speculated that the television viewership has declined drastically. What are your views about it?

While it is true that most of the people are turning away from television, one cannot outright claim that we do not have tele-fiction viewers all together. There are many who are still eager to watch quality content on television. We still have a good number of viewers who watch our projects on TV.