Rashed Mamun Apu and his fame as the foe

Hailing from Rajshahi's cultural scene, Rashed Mamun Apu rose to fame through television dramas in Dhaka about a decade and a half ago. 

His journey began from his roots in Rajshahi, his characters often speaking in the local dialect. Even though he knew the dialect could limit viewership, he still stood by such roles to showcase the regional culture and dialect. 

Today, he has become an icon in mainstream media. Apu is known for his villain roles in productions by industry-leading directors. Now, fans can expect to see Apu in the much-anticipated web series, 'Black Money,' directed by Raihan Rafi and 'Ondhokarer Gaan' directed by Vicky Zahed.

This shift is quite jarring, to say the least. 

And yet, even after taking frequent breaks from the spotlight throughout his career, he still outdoes himself with each new role.

Throughout Apu's over-a-decade-long career, he has explored a variety of characters, but ended up sticking with the role of the 'villain'. In a recent interview with The Business Standard, Rashed Mamun Apu talks about how he made it from TV dramas to the big screen with characters fans find hard to love.

The beginning of his villain arc

When his career started, Apu frequently starred in serialised dramas but the actor always had a clear vision of where he wanted to see his career in the future. 

Early on, he noticed how the industry always had an abundance of heroes but the case was not the same for antagonists.

While actors grabbed for roles of heroes and protagonists, he took a step away from the tide and aimed to be the new face of villains with the film 'Nabab LLB' in 2020, directed by Anonno Mamun and K M Rasheduzzaman Rafi. 

His success in films didn't happen overnight for him, though. His patience and hard work pulled him through. Even Apu was taken aback by how the industry welcomed his shift in roles.

"I never expected mainstream cinema to accept me so quickly and love me so much, especially as a villain," said Apu. 

He continues, "I took a long break after my first film and I came back from the hiatus with a guest role in Raihan Rafi's 'Dahan'. But then there was another two-year break. When I started working regularly in films, I put the brakes on acting in dramas."

As the demand for OTT content surges in Bangladesh, actors from various backgrounds are gravitating towards digital platforms. Apu is no exception. 

He has teamed up with Raihan Rafi again for 'Black Money', where he will make a cameo appearance. 

While both Apu and the director have been tight-lipped about the specifics of his character and the plot of the webseries, the audience's curiosity has been piqued. 

"I can't say much about it in detail right now," Apu said regarding the character. "But you might see me at the very end of the series, as well as its sequel." 

Apu will also star in a web series titled 'Ondhokarer Gaan' directed by Vicky Zahed, who has gained immense popularity by creating OTT content in recent times. Here, he will be seen as a wealthy family's drug-addicted child. 

"The story is completely different from the stories we have seen from Vicky Zahed before," said Apu.

He continues, "The script was enough for me to know that it will be loved by fans. Although it's a romantic story, there are a lot of twists in the story."

Currently, 11 of his films are awaiting release. Notable among them are 'Jongli', 'Jolrong', 'Ator Bibi Lane', 'The Writer', 'Chador', 'The Game', and 'Nor Sundori'. 

Concern about the entertainment industry

Although Rashed Mamun Apu's film career is strong, the Bangladeshi film industry is gradually shrinking. 

His concern became even more visible as our conversation shifted to the topic of theatre halls. The actor shared his observations on this matter.

"When I started working in films, the condition of this industry was very bleak. I want my films to be released at a larger capacity so everyone can enjoy them. All parties play a role in the destruction of theatre halls," he said.

Apu's passion for the growth of the entertainment industry and preserving culture has always been strong. 

Even when he entered the profession, he took up roles that needed him to speak in a dialect. Soon, the relevance of regional languages in dramas broadcasted on national media became a popular topic of discussion

"Our regional language is our heritage. Our language is Bengali, but the region where we were born is also my mother tongue," stated Apu.

He concludes, "In our neighbouring countries, industries have been built for every language, it connects the stories to the people of that area."