I saved my tuition money for years to buy a harmonium: Chanchal Chowdhury
Before the awards, acclaim, and fame that came with his hard work and his career that took a turn with “Monpura”, Chanchal Chowdhury spent years quietly working his way up, taking on small roles and embracing every opportunity that came his way.
His journey into acting was anything but straightforward. From joining Aranyak Natyadal with no formal acting experience to spending nearly a decade taking on backstage and supporting roles, he built his career through patience, perseverance and an unwavering love for theatre.
Today, he is one of Bangladesh’s most celebrated actors, a multiple-time National Film Award winner whose work spans films, television and OTT productions, including Bengali cinema in India. But for Chanchal, the journey began with just a few lines on a theatre stage — and a willingness to keep going.
In 1996, after applying to join Aranyak Natyadal, Chanchal received a call from the theatre troupe. Around 200 people were initially invited, 20 were shortlisted, and eight were eventually selected.
“When they asked about my acting experience, I told them honestly that I had none. I said, ‘I’ll do whatever you teach me.’ I also told them that although I didn’t know how to act, I could sing,” he recalled.
Azizul Hakim and Mannan Hira were present that day. Chanchal believes his straightforward answers may have appealed to them. He was later selected for a workshop, marking the beginning of his journey with Aranyak.
For the next decade, he remained closely involved with theatre, taking on almost every backstage and supporting role before getting his first opportunity to perform.
His breakthrough on stage came unexpectedly. During a performance of “Joyjoyonti”, the harmonium player was unavailable. Actor Fazlur Rahman Babu suggested his name, simply saying, “He can do it.”
His first stage role consisted of only two or three lines. “I was happy even with those few lines,” he said.
In “Shundori”, a serial written and directed by Mamunur Rashid, Chanchal appeared in just two scenes as a journalist, alongside renowned actor Bipasha Hayat.
“Then it went on from one scene to many more. There were very few television channels at the time. It took me 10 to 12 years to get a central role,” he said.
Yet he never gave up. “I stayed with it. I had to practise and persevere.” For years, he worked in small roles without chasing fame or making grand plans for his career. “I didn’t have any big dreams or plans. I simply kept working because I loved theatre.”
Recognition eventually came in 2005, when he appeared in a commercial directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. The commercial featured a son returning home with a mobile phone for his mother and brought Chanchal Chowdhury widespread recognition.
“After that one advertisement, people across the country began recognising me. I received so much love. Then offers started coming in, and I began to dream,” he recalled.
He subsequently acted in the television dramas “Talpatar Sepai” and “Nikhoj Shongbad”. However, financial stability had remained a distant reality for much of his early career.
“I never imagined I would actually earn money from acting. We were many siblings, and my father was a teacher,” he said.
While studying at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Chanchal supported himself by tutoring students.
“I saved my tuition money for three to four years and bought a harmonium. I had a deep love for that harmonium, and I still do. I bought it with money I had saved from tutoring.”
Around a year after his appearance in that commercial, he acted in Gias Uddin Selim’s television serial “Enchi Surjer Hashi”. More offers followed, including projects with acclaimed directors. He also began working regularly with Salahuddin Lavlu.
Then came “Monpura”. While working in television, Chowdhury was offered a major role in Gias Uddin Selim’s 2009 film. Starring opposite Farhana Mili, he delivered a performance that would become a defining moment in his career, while the film went on to become a major success.
“‘Monpura’ added something very special to my acting career. The audience accepted me wholeheartedly through the film. I am grateful to them,” Chowdhury said.
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