Shahed Sharif Khan: An actor’s advocacy for change

The famous model, actor, and playwright, Shahed Sharif Khan, has made waves in the industry since his modelling debut in 1998. Venturing into so many paths, it might seem like the artiste has done it all. That is until, in an interesting twist, the artiste announced that he would advocate for change in the entertainment industry through the organisation, 'Bangladesh Cultural Unity'.

Shahed first started his film career with great promise, debuting in the movie 'Joyjatra'. Fans across the country remember him most for his role in 'Hridoy Shudhu Tomar Jonno' (2004), alongside other titles such as, 'Priyo Shathi' (2003), and 'Oggatonama' (2016). Currently, his film 'Antaratta' is awaiting its release.

However, Shahed's involvement in 'Bangladesh Cultural Unity' marks an entirely new journey for the artiste, being his first time representing a cultural organisation as the appointed Joint General Secretary. With new responsibilities upon his shoulders, questions arise about his intentions behind this new role and the future of his career. 

A step towards change

The organisation, 'Bangladesh Cultural Unity' was formed in September of this year, with the goal of addressing the disparities in the cultural sector. 

Bangladesh's political landscape has seen a recurring pattern–every new government brings a wave of changes across all sectors, aligning with the new ruling party's ideology. 

Even with the current interim government in power, the cultural sphere continues to evolve, witnessing the emergence of new organisations and faces. There's a heated debate about the extent to which this new administration can reshape the cultural landscape, which has long been dominated by old, authoritarian practices.

Amidst this transformation, 'Bangladesh Cultural Unity' emerged, aiming to bridge the gap between the old and the new.

Actor Shahed, who is also a founding member, shared, "Our organisation is committed to driving positive change in the cultural arena. We aim to not only foster the growth of artists but also artisans. Through collaboration and a well-defined plan, artistes and crew members will be able to support each other."

The organisation will also work on discovering new artistes and training them, as well as uplifting their careers. 

Even before his involvement in the organisation, Shahed was active in the cultural arena during the July uprising. Many fans remain curious about this sudden shift.

"I always sided with the fact that artistes should veer away from politics, but we also need change in the industry. We need a platform to protest for change, and so, organisations like ours have become necessary," shared Shahed. 

In the past, the overly close relationships between government officials with cultural figures, especially actors, created a negative impression of celebrities among the public. 

"I still stand by the fact that artistes need to keep politics at an arm's length–they need to remember that they represent a larger community of artistes," shared Shahed. "There's no problem with getting involved with political parties but when artistes start following their biases blindly, it creates a negative perception of the artistes around them."

Has acting been on the back burner?

Shahed has been consistently busy with his successful acting career for over two decades. However, his active involvement in organisational activities after the July Revolution has raised questions about whether he is moving away from acting. 

The question is reinforced by the fact that Shahed has not been active in writing or directing dramas for a while. But speculations of changed priorities are far from the truth. 

"I have a desire to write and direct dramas," he said. "If I get a respectful opportunity, you will see me directing. However, I feel more comfortable directing my own stories."

The demand to see Shahed on screen is still undeniable, yet Shahed returns to acting only occasionally.

However, Shahed has his plans. Shahed elaborates that he is much more focused on scripts he feels passionate about, rather than working on projects that don't spark his interest. 

"I act regularly if I find good scripts and production plans. I'm not interested in average films, which is why I don't appear in new projects as often as before."

With a 24-year long career, one could even say that Shahed grew up in the industry. So, the sudden shift in trends of creating content just for views is not lost on the actor. Such productions are usually crafted with little care, prioritising high viewerships.

"I'm not sure if there is a future for these 'viral' projects. However, quality dramas do not get lost, they also receive well-deserved high viewership, and remain timeless."

Just before the conversation wrapped up, Shahed shared that fans can expect to see him in two new movies in the future.