Nayeem on a hunt for perfection

ASP Mahid faces a great challenge in his career, as multiple murders leave the country in terror. A missing case leads him towards one of his biggest missions ever. 

The intriguing storyline of the Hoichoi web series "Mission Huntdown" will unfold many mysteries on June 28.

FS Nayeem, fresh off a career rejuvenation through OTT, shares his expectation about this project with The Daily Star.

It is being said that the audience will find a "new Nayeem" in this project. Why?

People's expectations have skyrocketed after watching the trailer, as they have never seen me in a true action flick before. In my long career, I have always been concerned about being overused or misused. I have never appeared in repetitive roles on-screen. Ashfaque in "Karagar" had one kind of persona, while Mahboob in Chorki's "Overtrump" was completely different, and this is going to be another 180 degrees, and I am sure the audience will get it, once they watch the show.

How did you prepare for the role?

ASP Mahid is literally Sunny Sanwar himself. It is extremely difficult to portray a living person, that too when he is the director. 

Also, there were benefits of watching him closely and taking tips about action scenes from him, as it would be more real.

I tried to observe Sunny bhai very closely to understand his personality, and how he sees the world. Luckily, he was satisfied with my work.

Give us some insight about ASP Mahid.

Mahid's motto is to free his country from terrorists. Through his journey, he has to pay a lot. Moreover, you will see the human inside a cop, and not just the police who runs everywhere holding a gun!

He is a family person; he loves his colleagues and his country. To be honest, we need at least one Mahid in each sector in our country. 

This is where Mahid is different and I have given my best efforts to bring him on the screen. 

How do you do your homework to become a character?

I always try to act in a lean way. When I take up any project, my entire time is dedicated to it. I spend a lot of time with the crew even before we start shootings or rehearsals. This is just to get the vibe of the story and especially the director's vision.

Nayeem, in real life, is a very positive personality. What is the secret behind this?

Since childhood, I had faced a lot of comparisons, and encountered many competitions. Since my grandfather was a language activist and politician, and my father was a freedom fighter—being compared to such great personalities was challenging for me. Since I have dedicated my life to acting, I have never tried to become a conventional actor, but create my personality in a way that leaves a mark in one's heart. I believe a positive smile can bring a remarkable change.