Md Jahidul Islam, Dhaka: ABM Azfar Uzzaman, popularly known as ABM Sumon, is one of the most popular film actors of the country. Sumon made his film journey with the movie ‘Ochena Hridoy’ in 2015. Then, he has acted in several films. The actor came into limelight with his performance as SWAT leader Ashfaque in the film ‘Dhaka Attack’.
Sumon’s upcoming film ‘MR-9: Do or Die’ will hit theatres in Bangladesh and different other countries of the world on August 25. Based on the popular Bangladeshi spy novel series ‘Masud Rana’ by Qazi Anwar Hossain, the film has been directed by Asif Akbar.
Hollywood actors Michael Jai White, Niko Foster, Frank Grillo, Bollywood actors Sakshi Pradhan, Omi Vaidya and others have also played different roles in the Bangladesh-US joint venture film.
ABM Sumon, who has played the role ‘Masud Rana’ in the film, talks about his upcoming venture and more in a recent conversation with the Daily Sun.
After a few days, your dream project ‘MR-9: Do or Die’ will be released, how do you feel?
Well, I’m very excited about the film. I’m also feeling so much tension because I’ve played the role of ‘Masud Rana’. People of the country are very familiar with the character, so I’m just thinking about how the die-heart fans of Masud Rana will react after seeing my role as Masud Rana in the silver screen.
How did you got involved in the film?
All of a sudden I got involved in the film ‘Mr-9: Do or Die’. Jaaz Multimedia initiated to make a film based on the popular novel Masud Rana in 2019. Channel i also arranged a reality show ‘Ke Hobe Masud Rana.’ Later, when the director of the film came with his Hollywood team to Bangladesh, they did a secret audition, and finally selected me for this role.
It took almost five years to complete its journey, could you share some experience with the audience about the film?
We have completed the shooting of the movie within a year. If you count the journey of the film from the audition round, then it’s a different matter. It was a fantastic experience. I shared screen with some awesome artistes in the film ‘MR-9: Do or Die’ and earned a lot of experiences from them. I’m a big fan of Michael Jai White. He is my co-artiste in the film. Firstly, I was hesitant to talk to him on the shooting set, and then Jai White himself started conversation with me. He is a down-to-earth man. I’ve learned many things related to acting from him. He got mingled with me in such a way that I felt I had known him for a long time. I also shared some experiences with respected Tariq Anam Khan bhai and Bollywood artiste Omi Vaidya. They are very humble persons. Actually, I did not find any difference between Bangladeshi artistes and that of Hollywood, Bollywood artistes, who played different roles in the film.
Many are comparing ‘MR-9’film with the ‘James Bond’ series? What’s your view in this regard?
James Bond series and ‘MR-9: Do or Die’ are films of the same genre. Both are spy thriller movies. It’s quite normal that the audience will compare the film with the James bond series. Actually, James Bond is a famous series and many popular Hollywood artistes have acted in the series. I’m really very happy that people are comparing our film with the James Bond series.
Did you face any challenge while acting in the movie?
Not really, I didn’t face any challenge while acting in the film. In the middle of the shooting, there was a little problem with my legs. The shooting unit was very well prepared. The film authorities didn’t even let me do a good many stunts though I will be able to do them.
The trailer of the movie has already been released, what about responses?
Well, I’m getting quite a good response. Discussion is going on about the film on different film related digital platforms. When I go somewhere, people call me Masud Rana. It’s like a dream to me that people are calling me by my character’s name instead of my own name.
Do you think Masud Rana is the best character in your career?
From the beginning of my career, it was my long cherish desired that I will play two characters—‘Masud Rana’ and ‘Nandail er Younus’. The character Nandail’er Yunus is a creation of noted novelist and dramatist Humayun Ahmed. Noted artiste Asaduzzaman Noor played the character in the drama ‘Maatir Pinjirar Majhe Bondi Hoiya Re’.
Would you like to say something about your next venture?
My film ‘Antarjal’ will be released on September 8. Dipankar Dipon is the director of the film. I have played the role of a cyber-crime official at CID. The release date of another film titled ‘Dahokal’ will be announced soon. Work on the film is yet to be finished. I’m playing the role of a freedom fighter in the Dhrubo Hasan–directed movie.
What do you want to say to your audience?
Our film industry has just started turning around and we have come up with more quality films than before. This time, we need more support from our audience. Our film industry is very small. The industry is faced with many problems. We have to work amid these limitations. That’s why we cannot do work perfectly. Audience is our only hope. And if I want to talk about the film MR-9, I will say that we are going to introduce the familiar character ‘Masud Rana’ at the international level with the film. I hope the audience will be with us in our journey.
