AK AZAD on the rise

Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed

Born into a middle-income family, actor and model AK Azad came under the limelight after becoming the champion of Channel i's hit reality show, Emami Fair & Handsome – The Ultimate Man in 2014. Harbouring dreams of becoming an actor from a young age, Azad took part in several theatre productions at his school and came to Dhaka in 2012. But his path to progressing as an actor was not one without struggles.

“I lived with my maternal uncle when I came to Dhaka. I studied Hotel Management and my theory classes were held at The Westin,” says Azad. He also briefly worked as a builder on a part-time basis. “I was asked to sell bricks to some dealers,” he explains. “I went to Shyamoli from Kawran Bazaar on foot. That was a difficult period in my life.”

Azad later went on to work as a security guard at The Westin and was well-liked by his colleagues. He was spotted dancing at one of the events at the hotel. Seeing his potential, the people at the hotel encouraged him to participate in the reality show, which started off his professional journey in the showbiz world.

He ventured into the field of television with a role on Channel i's tele-fiction, Ai Bari Amader, directed by Arun Chowdhury. He went onto carve a space for himself in the industry with his praiseworthy work in a number of television ventures and in over thirty television commercials.

“I feel privileged to be a part of the entertainment industry. I am humbled to see that my work is liked by the audience,” he adds.

After starring in Shawkat Nasir's web series, Trapped, Azad started receiving film offers. He is set to star in the films, Rajkonnya and Ferrari Prem, directed by Raju Chowdhury and Raisul Rony respectively. The shooting of the latter kicked off in Pubail recently.