We sit down and catch a breather with the versatile and extremely busy star of the successful film 'Purnodoirgho Prem Kahini' and also the lead actor of 'Valobasha Zindabad' which was released yesterday.

After the success of 'Purnodoirgho Prem Kahini' you are being dubbed as the next Shakib Khan, what have you got to say to that?
I hate the term next… it's a made up term, a marketing tool used by the media. I don't believe in being anyone's next. I want to work hard as an actor; be appreciated for my work, create my own space and audience.
So far you have worked with Jaya, Purnima and Mahi, tell us how the experience was of working with them.
(Makes a hand gesture of being okay and chuckles) They were very nice, too good…uff what else can I say. (He laughs again)
Purnima is very sweet, talented, cooperative and amazing to work with.
Jaya is very sweet, talented….
How come you are repeating the same thing over and over again?
That's not fair, I learned it by heart… you know how long it took me to memorize those lines.
But in all honesty, they are all much more experienced than I am and very versatile with their body of work. They all have their own benchmark. I was a bit shaken up while shooting with them and was very conscious about the image I portrayed of myself amongst them.
Mahi is a very friendly-natured person and it was a lot easier to work with her. She can adapt very quickly.
Airin is a sweetheart… she is a dude. The whole unit of 'Valobasha Zindabad' used to pull pranks on her and I would participate with them as well. Well not all the time though, I am not that bad; I used to save her sometimes as well after I had my fun. (He giggles)
How has it been travelling with the film crew?
The hardest thing about my work would be the constant travelling and the busy schedule we are dealt with. I am having the happiest, coolest and the most exciting time of my life, yet it is a horrible phase. I have no dates at the moment.
So what dates are we talking about?
Dirty mind!(taunts us) I mean I have a packed schedule for the next year.
Why isn't Bangla cinema improving?
I too had a similar feeling before joining the industry. There are many reasons and theories as to why the progress is slow but it is getting there I can assure you.
The work here is tough, I had my hand dislocated and yet I had to continue shooting to keep the schedule on track.
What lead you to becoming an actor?
Dude look at me, I look like a “Hero”. I am the best and better than any other out there. During my childhood all the neighbours would request my mother to have me and Shawjeeb (his brother) come out and dance with them during the Pooja festivals. I have always enjoyed entertaining people, making them laugh and cry at the same time.
I got into modelling back in 2002 because I was tall and this lead to me joining the film industry or rather the “Philim” world as they call it sometimes.
You seem self conscious about your physical attributes and seem quite fit.
Thank you, I try. As I said earlier I am trying to create my own space and audience. I do not want to do what already has been done. Even during this photo shoot, I was trying to get into a character and pose accordingly, I am not interested in standing there and striking the regular hero-type poses.
How do you maintain your physique and train whilst having such a busy schedule?
Thank god finally someone asked me this question (he looks upwards and seeks blessing). I have been dying to tell people about this but never got the chance. I have a gym at my house and workout when I am home. I also have an instructor who comes over to train me and give me guidance.
Any strange or weird message you've ever received from a fan?
With a big grin on his face, he tells us that a fan once messaged him on Facebook, asking “I will give you an iPhone, I will give you an iPad, why won't you love me?”
The craziest thing you ever did?
I became an actor
Apart from that?
Well I still have a sir from my college days who believes that I stammer. Whenever he would ask me to stand up and read a column I would intentionally get stuck on one world, he would eventually lose his temper; scold me and ask me to sit down.
But now you would be caught.
I don't think so, you see I was obnoxiously fat as a child. Well fat and ugly if I have to be completely honest. So I don't think anyone can recognise me from my earlier life. I was so fugly (fat and ugly) that during my academic years I wasn't allowed to wear half pants whereas all my other classmates got to sport them.

Interviewed By Adnan Ahmed