Reputed actor Ahsan Habib Nasim is known for his contribution in both theatre and television industry. Beginning his career as stage performer, Nasir started working in theatre troupe Subachan while still a student. In conversation with The Daily Star, the actor shared his expectations and experiences of working as a theatre artiste.

Tell us about your first theatre project?

Nasim: Mamunur Rashid's “Rastro Bonam” was my first project. Before this I was completely unaware of practices, skills and rules of theatre. The role of Tejarot required both singing and acting skills. This was another reason I got selected for the role.

Tell us about your training and work experience?

Nasim: When I was selected for “Rastro Bonam”, I had to participate in a number of workshops. I must admit, in the beginning I was very confident in myself, unaware of how hard theatre is. These workshops opened my eyes and made me realise how small I am in terms of knowledge about this vast sector.

Why is theatre not a profession in Bangladesh?

Nasim: Honestly, I would have never gone for television industry if there was enough professionalism in theatre, but it is not like that. We all have a family and we need to support it. Therefore to earn a living, people are more likely to join the television industry. Moreover, till the early '90s, theatre was catalyst that could bring change for betterment. Now the scenario is different as people consider it a school. Many of the newcomers join theatre to learn the core skills, so that they can do well in television. That is why we lack professionalism, and as a result there is a shortage of people who can turn theatre into a profession.

Do you think the government can help in this regard?

Nasim:  It's not about money; it's about opportunities. We need the government to provide scopes to the theatre troupes. If there are area-based cultural centres then theatre troupes would be able to perform more. In the meantime, to attract viewers there will be more challenges, experiments as well as competition. So it will help nurture professionalism among the theatre activists. If government can introduce some new regulations then it would be easier to turn theatre into a self-sustaining sector.

What is your dream for theatre?

Nasim:  My only dream is that the dreams of the big dreamers of theatre come true. Plus, it is my request to all the artistes not to use theatre as a path to reach another goal.