Actor, director and writer Hasan Masood has stepped away from acting after years of being a familiar face in Bangladeshi films and television dramas.
In a recent interview with a private television channel, he opened up about his changed lifestyle and his decision to focus more on religion.
“I have actually withdrawn a bit. I don’t act anymore. A change has come in my life. That is why I now only do commercials if I get them, otherwise I don’t. I have become a bit of a thinker. That is to say, I have become more religious,” Hasan Masood said.
He revealed that he performed Hajj this year and spent 41 days in Makkah and Madinah.
However, he said his transformation began well before the pilgrimage.
“I performed Hajj this year. That is why I was there for 41 days — in Makkah and Madinah. But the change actually came much earlier. I am now completely changed, you could say,” he said.
Hasan Masood also spoke about his changing relationship with books.
Although he was once an avid reader, he said he eventually stopped reading after feeling that excessive reading had made him emotionally detached.
“The chapter of reading books actually ended a long time ago for me. I read so much, so much, that towards the end I had become like a machine. No emotions worked inside me,” he said.
Explaining what he meant, Hasan Masood recalled a time when he felt almost indifferent to human suffering.
“If someone died under a truck in front of me, I would think — the person died because of his own fault. I had become like that kind of machine. No sentiment worked inside me,” he said.
He eventually decided to sell his extensive book collection, selling around 1,200 books at Nilkhet.
He said he has not returned to reading since.
Hasan Masood’s career began long before he entered the entertainment industry.
He joined the Bangladesh Army as a cadet in 1985 and retired with the rank of captain in 1992.
After leaving the army, he entered journalism. He worked at The New Nation before joining The Daily Star as a sports reporter in 1995.
He later worked as a correspondent for BBC Bangla from 2004 to 2008.
His acting career began in 2003 with Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s film Bachelor.
He subsequently became a familiar face in both television dramas and films.
His film credits include Made in Bangladesh, while his television work includes popular productions such as Houseful, Taxi Driver, FDC, Bou, Khunsuti, Graduate, Ronger Dunia, Amader Sansar, Goni Saheber Shesh Kichudin and Batashar Ghor.
Alongside acting and journalism, Hasan Masood has also been involved in music.
He lent his voice to the song Ajke Na Hoy Bhalobaso from Bachelor.
His debut music album, Hridoyghotito, was released on Valentine’s Day in 2006.
While Hasan Masood has largely withdrawn from acting, he said his changed outlook on life has led him towards a more religious and contemplative path.
