IANS

Bangladeshi actor Ferdaus is preparing for live performances after stage shows with Bollywood stars like Mithun Chakraborty and Karishma Kapoor.

"Seeing the warm response of Bangladeshi expatriates at shows in Dubai, London and New York, I'm planning to develop a professional troupe," said Ferdaus, who has successfully straddled film industries in both Dhaka and Kolkata.

Bollywood too beckoned him, but briefly, with the film "Mitti". Made in 2001, it was directed by Iqbal Durrani. Sharbani Mukherji, who made her debut in the blockbuster movie "Border", played the film's female lead.

"Though 'Mitti' was an average movie, I had a wonderful experience working in a professional film industry," Ferdaus told The Daily Star.

Why was there no Bollywood follow-up? Ferdaus said: "It takes much time to complete a movie in Bollywood. This might have had an adverse impact on my career in Dhaliwood (Dhaka) and Tollywood (Kolkata), where I'm reigning."

"So far, I've played the lead in over 30 movies in Kolkata, most of which have been hits. Judging my popularity, the city often invites me to inaugurate major festivals like Durga Puja and Kali Puja.

"But because of family responsibilities, I can't put in much time in India. That's why I'm doing more movies in Dhaka," he said.

Ferdaus shot to fame after "Buker Bhitorey Agun", a film by the late Salman Shah. Indian director Basu Chatterjee picked him to act in an Indo-Bangladesh joint venture titled "Hothat Brishti", which became a blockbuster in Bangladesh and Bangla-speaking regions in India.

"For that movie I received two major awards in both countries - National Award for Films in Bangladesh (1998) and the Anandlok Award in Kolkata," he added.