The audience’s love for popular Bangladeshi actor Salman Shah remains undiminished.
His acting, style and romantic screen presence made him a major star in the 1990s, and his sudden death on 6 September, 1996, plunged the country into mourning.
Over the years, many stories of fans’ intense devotion to the actor have emerged.
One such story has inspired the film Love 96, directed by Ivan Mallik as a tribute to the late star.
The film is being released on Friday, in 20 cinemas across the country.
It explores a chapter of the love and emotional attachment that Salman Shah inspired among fans during the 1990s.
Ivan Mallik said his admiration for Salman Shah began when he watched the actor’s films in cinemas as a child.
He was deeply affected after seeing news of Salman Shah’s death on television in 1996.
Later, stories about the extreme reactions of some fans further influenced him.
“I watched Salman Shah’s film in a cinema for the first time when I was in primary school. When I heard about his death on television in 1996, I could not accept the news at that age. I later heard that some people had even taken their own lives after learning of his death. Those stories affected me deeply,” the director said.
He added, “As I grew older, Salman Shah became even more special to me. In 2008, I decided to make a film dedicated to his fans. I believe people who grew up in the 1990s will easily connect with the story.”
Love 96 stars Aryan Khan and Purnota in the lead roles. The film marks the first full-length feature for both actors.
They play characters named Khasru and Duli, names inspired by the characters played by Salman Shah and Shabnur in Shibli Sadik’s film Ananda Ashru.
The cast also includes Shiba Sanu, Sanjida Mila, Tamal Mahbub, Rebecca Rauf, Arman Khan, Priya, DJ Sohel, Rubel Rana and Simanta Khandaker, among others.
Three decades after Salman Shah’s death, public interest in the actor remains strong.
Love 96 attempts to bring that enduring emotion to the screen through a new story.
