By Ahmed Zaman Shimul
Jaaz Multimedia, the pioneer of digital film production and distribution in Dhallywood, launched Bappy Chowdhury as a lead actor in its debut film ‘Bhalobashar Rong’. While Bappy’s acting did not immediately capture the audience’s heart, his good looks earned him attention.
Thanks to Jaaz’s backing, he quickly landed multiple film offers, many of which were commercially successful. Despite consistent criticism of his acting skills, he managed to gain a certain level of acceptance among viewers — eventually becoming a bankable name for cinema hall owners.
For some time, Bappy seemed poised enough to fill the gap — just behind Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan. But today, he has all but vanished from the industry.
Bappy was once paired with several of the country’s A-lister actresses — Mahiya Mahi, Achol, Bidya Sinha Mim and Apu Biswas, to name a few. Aside from Bhalobashar Rong, his notable commercial successes include ‘Onnorokom Bhalobasha’, ‘Jotil Prem’, ‘Tobu Bhalobashi’, ‘Onek Shader Moyna’, ‘Dobir Saheber Songsar’, ‘Sultana Bibiana’, ‘Sweetheart’ and ‘Priyo Komola’. However, his most recent films — ‘Shatru,’ among them, were box-office failures.
The decline of Bappy’s career began around 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. He started taking on fewer roles and focused on completing his delayed graduation. During this period, rumours began circulating that Bappy had married and was fathering a child — claims he publicly and firmly rebuffed.
As the pandemic eased, Bappy attempted a comeback. But this time, distancing himself from Jaaz Multimedia and trying to forge a path independently. He signed several new projects, including ‘Dhaka 2040’, ‘Premer Bandhan’, ‘Covid-19 in Bangladesh’, ‘Jontrona’, and ‘Give and Take’.
Dhaka 2040, a science fiction film directed by Dipankar Dipon, co-starring Nusraat Faria, generated significant buzz when its poster was released. Many believed it marked a turning point in Bappy’s career. However, only about 20 per cent of the film was shot before the project got stalled; now for nearly four years. The producers have since indicated that the film is unlikely to be completed.
Similarly, in Ashraf Shishir’s ‘570’, Bappy’s look drew praise, and although production on the film has wrapped, its release date still remains uncertain.
So, what led to Bappy’s downfall despite once being a strong box-office contender right after Shakib Khan? Industry insiders point to the arrival of a new generation of actors post-2019.
Siam, Roshan and Shariful Razz had earned much acclaim for their performances and quickly won over audiences. Meanwhile, Bappy continued to deliver one flop after another and yet refused to reduce his remuneration — still demanding Tk 15 to Tk 20 lakh per film.
Moreover, directors grew frustrated with his erratic behaviour — being difficult to reach, turning up late on set and being unprofessional.
When The Times of Bangladesh contacted Bappy to enquire about his current whereabouts and work-related plans, he said he was currently in Narayanganj overseeing his family’s business.
However, he expressed his desire to return to films soon and stated that he is working on reinventing himself for a fresh, new start in the industry.