NISHO'S pursuits

Afran Nisho is a popular figure in the showbiz industry. From ramp modelling to television commercials, he has done it all. In this week’s interview with Rafi Hossain, the popular actor talks about his passion for his profession.

Afran Nisho: I will definitely keep Afzal bhai’s advice in mind. So many dramas are being made these days. Even if I reject a lot of them, I still end up doing multiple ones simultaneously. Despite turning down many projects, I ended up doing around thirty dramas during Eid. I understand where Afzal bhai’s concern is coming from. I got to work with him at the beginning of my career, and I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to have that opportunity.

Rafi: Don’t you get exhausted after doing simultaneous projects?

Nisho: Work pressure really takes a toll on me, and due to that, I’m very tired most of the time. I am yet to start a project since last Eid. Whenever there’s a special occasion like Eid or Valentine’s day, I have to work almost twenty-eight to thirty days a month.

Rafi: Since you do a lot of dramas, you might end up doing projects with similar scripts. Do you ever feel tired of playing characters that are similar to the ones you have already played in the past?

Nisho: When I act in a drama, I give it my all. In my opinion, no two stories can have the same storyline. We focus on many genres nowadays, leading to the production of different types of content. With around four to five hundred dramas being made each Eid, the ones who say that the scripts are the same should watch all of them first. Sometimes it may happen that people see a short clip from a drama, and will judge it based on just that. If they watch the entire drama, I think they will understand that the dramas are not that similar.

Rafi: You have become quite a popular actor. What would you say is the reason behind your popularity?

Nisho: My fans tell me that they find my acting realistic. Perhaps, the other reason is that I have always tried to play different characters across various genres. I remember a senior artist once told me that even though the audience would not easily be able to connect with me if I do different kinds of roles, it would make my acting base stronger. Since then, I have tried to work with stories that are unique. I have even portrayed negative roles. Many mainstream actors might hesitate to play negative roles, but I am open to exploring possibilities.

Rafi: Would you be interested to work in cinemas?

Nisho: I would love to do films. And I have received many offers, but I’ve declined them all as none offered the remuneration that I believe I deserve. That is one reason I haven’t done films. The world of cinema is a much larger platform than television, and to transition to that platform, I need to prepare myself. I was offered a film where my character was skinny. I asked for six months to prepare for the role, but since the filmmakers didn’t have that much time, I had to turn down the offer. Moreover, the characters I am being offered have to be appropriate for me. I will work in films only when all these factors match my expectations.