Up and coming actor Apurbo's dream

Onirban Report. Ziaul Faruq Apurbo aka Apurbo started his media career as the winner of 'Mr. Pantene You Got The Look' contest in 2004. Apurbo has done over 30 serials over the last six months, namely Boi Jog Bou = Boibahik, Ghor Chhara, Romijer Aaina, Noshto Manush, Ghor Phera, Mohor, Ontormomo and Khunje Pao, just to name a few. On his inclination towards the media, Apurbo says "I was working as a lecturer in Neural Institute of Management Information and Technology (NIMIT) and life was monotonous. I needed a change and that's when a photographer friend shot some pictures of me and just out of fun we sent it for the 'Pantene' contest. Luckily I got through the first round and miraculously ended up winning the title." As a child Apurbo had always dreamt of being an architect. Interestingly, his mother thought her son would end up joining the Muslim clergy as he would listen to the Aazan with awe and reverence every day. While this Cancerian has many favourite artistes, he does not believe in idolising them. "If I idolise someone I will want to be like him and end up copying him. In the bargain I will lose my own individuality" However he respects and is a huge fan of Humayun Faridee, Suborna Mustafa, Asaduzzaman Noor and Ali Zaker, among others. When Apurbo is not acting he spends his time drawing and cooking. "I'm a fantabulous cook and cook the best potato dishes in town," he adds with a grin. During sleepless nights Apurbo has a habit of cooking his own meals, cleaning up the kitchen and then settling down with his pencils and art paper. "I won't leave the pencil until I have completed the drawing no matter how long it takes." Regarding his future plans, Apurbo says that he doesn't believe in making long term plans and chooses to live in the present. He loves his work and expresses gratitude to Allah for all the blessings that have come his way. Popular composar and co-vocalist Nasim Ali Khan Onirbaan Report Nasim Ali Khan is a popular composer and co-vocalist in one of Bangladesh's most popular bands Souls. The band was formed in 1973. As a child Nasim was more inclined towards drama and painting. He started drawing ABC at the age of three. As he saw his elder siblings scribble the English alphabet, he would emulate them --without knowing what they were writing or what they meant. Friends and family prophesised back then that he would make Bangladesh proud through his drawings. He won the first prize in the Young Painters of Chittagong award at the age of 10. In the 9th grade he also participated and won the first prize in a competition meant for university level students. Interestingly, despite many prizes and accolades for painting, he never took it up as his major medium of creative expression. Not only is Nasim good at painting, he was also enthusiastic about acting. Film director Saukat Abbas had approached Nasim's father to let his son act in one his projects. That's the irony of the situation, laughs this highly successful businessman who has a Masters in management. In his words "A live performer gets maximum claps compared to any other media and the other apprehensions my father had also proved to be quite baseless. However, my father is actually very proud of me today." All said and done, Nasim today is famous for his innumerable number of hit songs with Souls. He has come a long way since his first Bengali song Akasher tara aaji jolchhey. Though he had kick started his music career with western music, Bengali music beckoned him as he felt he could best express the depth of his soul through his own language. Only after he had released his own album did Souls give him a chance to sing with them in Bengali. Till then he used to sing English songs. By the early 1990s he began singing Bengali songs for the band. From the album Ei emon porichoy, Shagor er oi prantorey became a raging success. Soon, Bhalobashi ei shobuj mela, Nirobey, Cha-er cup-e, Byostota each reached the number one spot and the streak of success continued. Nasim finally knew he had realised half of his dreams. "Its always a balancing act," philosophises Nasim on his divided passion for music and paintings. His creative aspirations will be at complete peace when he will be able to hold a solo exhibition of his paintings. He plans to fulfill that dream very soon. He modestly adds, "The problem is I can't place a price tag on my paintings as I am so passionate about them and end up donating most." While Nasim has left his mark in the Bengali music arena, it would not be surprising to see him leaving an equally impressive mark in the world of colours as well.

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