Entertainment Report :
Shahiduzzaman Selim started acting in stage plays suddenly without any preparation.
However, he started acting in television dramas with a lot of preparation and planning. Selim started working in TV dramas with a lot of persistence. Because, even after joining two movies before, he had to be dropped just because he was an unknown face.
As a result, gaining popularity by acting in television dramas became very important for him. Selim made his TV debut in 1989 with the drama ‘Jonaki Jwole’.
He started with two scenes, and by the time it was over, the character played by Selim had become one of the most important characters in the series.
Actor Abul Khair was very fond of young Selim. He used to recommend him to various producers.
Abul Khair also suggested Selim’s name to Humayun Ahmed for the play ‘Ayomoy’. However, Selim’s first meeting with Humayun Ahmed was not pleasant.
In a recent interview, Shahiduzzaman Selim said, “Khair’s brother gave me a phone number and said, ‘Call Humayun Ahmed tomorrow.’ I told him. I called him. He asked me what I had done. I had done a couple of plays on television at that time.
I named a few stage plays. He said, ‘I haven’t seen any of your plays. Can you show me any video cassettes of your acting?”’
Shahiduzzaman Selim was very angry on hearing this.
He told Humayun Ahmed to his face, “I will send you a cassette to show my performance, what did you think of this! If you want to see my performance, then you have to come to the Women’s Association.
You have to watch the play of Dhaka Theatre. After watching, you will judge me.” After this, naturally, Shahiduzzaman Selim did not work in ‘Ayomoy’ serial again.
A few years later, he joined Humayun Ahmed’s ‘Kothao Keu Nei’ serial. However, the experience was not good. He left this drama midway without getting enough acting opportunities. Everyone was surprised by his decision. Humayun Ahmed was also surprised by his decision.
Shahiduzzaman Selim said, “I played the role of a doctor in it. After going to the rehearsal, I saw that I only had three scenes in the one-hour episode.
At first, I thought – I’m a newbie, this could happen. But I saw the same situation in the next episodes. A month or two passed and my character didn’t grow any more. At that time, the rule was that if someone joined a drama, they couldn’t work in another BTV drama. So, I was disappointed about it.
I wanted to tell Humayun Bhai that I wouldn’t do it. But the other artists in this drama were stopping me.” After waiting for a few weeks at the request of his fellow artistes, Shahiduzzaman Selim made the final decision.
He said, “Later, I went to Humayun Bhai and said, ‘Please release me from this drama serial.’ He just stared at me with a smile. Everyone in the unit stared at me. I am rejecting Humayun Ahmed’s drama! This is a big deal. Humayun Ahmed asked, why? I told him, “You are not using me.
I have two to three scenes in each episode. I will not work like this. It is better for you to release me. I have a good offer in another drama.” He remained silent for a few moments. Then he told me, “Give me one more episode.
Then I will release you.” After that, Shahiduzzaman Selim was not seen in any of Humayun Ahmed’s works.
He said that he got the courage to take such a bold decision from Humayun Faridi. He taught him how to create and maintain his own position.
