I’ve struggled a lot: Chanchal Chowdhury

After his acclaimed portrayal of Sonai in the movie "Monpura", Chanchal Chowdhury never had to look back. The actor is a beloved face in the industry, and today is his birthday. On this auspicious occasion, the actor got nostalgic about his roots.

"I grew up in a village, where it was not customary to celebrate birthdays. Still, every year on this day, my mother used to cook 'payesh'. I always remember my mother's meal with fondness", said the actor.

Hailing from a remote village in Pabna, Chanchal Chowdhury came to Dhaka more than two decades ago, to study in Dhaka University. After staying at his elder brother's house for a while, he moved to Jagannath Hall.

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"I used to go to class in the morning. At the end of class, I would go back to lunch to do tuition," said the actor. "After the tuition, commuting to Aranyak Theatre was a daily task."

"I struggled a lot during that time. Studies, tuitions, and drama were meditation for me," said Chanchal, who, under the direction of Mostafa Sarwar Farooqi, starred in a Grameenphone ad that changed his life forever.

It was one of the most exciting points of Chanchal's life. "Never thought I'd get so much love from people."

After Gias Uddin Selim scouted him, seeing his performance on stage, Chanchal's career has constantly been at an upward trajectory. "To be honest, the sheer volume of love and prayers that I've received from the audience is my biggest achievement, and and my biggest blessing", says the National Award winner.