‘The Ekushey Padak has inspired me greatly’

Afzal Hossain broke into the scene as a quintessential actor, appearing in many lead roles over the years. A man of diverse talents, his creativity extends to direction, painting and poetry. He eventually cemented his name as one of the greatest actors to take up the craft, in Bangladesh.

The renowned artiste's name has been announced for the country's second highest civilian award, the Ekushey Padak this year, alongside distinguished names like Zeenat Barkatullah, Nazrul Islam Babu, Mahmudur Rahman Benu, Masum Aziz, Iqbal Ahmed, Afzal Hossain, and Khaled Mahmud Khan.

In a candid interview with The Daily Star, the noted actor opens up about winning the prestigious award.

We congratulate you on this great achievement. How did you feel after knowing that you won the coveted Ekushey Padak? 

Words cannot describe my emotions at the moment. It feels great on receiving such an important recognition from the government, and I am thankful to everyone who were there during my journey.

My phone has been gyrating with non-stop calls from my admirers, well-wishers and colleagues, congratulating me on my award. People who hardly contacted me over the years called me up after seeing the news on online portals. The feeling is ethereal, and I am speechless right now.

How do you think this recognition will inspire you in the future?

Any kind of recognition, regardless of stature, adds responsibility on that artiste to perform their best.

The Ekushey Padak has instilled a newfound zest and a sense of enthusiasm in me. I want to contribute more to this field, as it has given so much love and recognition throughout my career.

As an artiste, do you think about accolades when you are working?

As an artiste, I have never done anything to gain fame or fortune. I pursue my work out of passion and ardent love for the field. For example, I wrote books out of my love for writing, not just for the sake of publishing my books. The same goes for acting as well, I pursue it out of passion. 

Which projects are you busy with at the moment?

I will make a much-anticipated return to theatre with "Pendulum", directed by two greats – Nasiruddin Yousuff and Masum Reza. Other than that, I am directing my first film for the silver screen, "Maniker Laal Kakra", which I am excited about.