Watching a film on the big screen for the very first time is a memory that stays with most people for a lifetime. For Bangladeshi film stars, the experience is no less special. This Eid, as families across the country flocked to theatres, four of Dhallywood’s leading stars shared their earliest cinema experiences with The Daily Star, recalling the excitement, wonder, and familial moments that accompanied their first visits.
Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan recounted attending his first film with his mother. “I watched a film starring Shabana Madam when I was very young. I cannot recall the exact title, but the thrill of seeing a movie on the big screen has stayed with me ever since,” he said. The experience took place in a cinema hall in Narayanganj, and Shakib says he can still picture that day vividly. Reflecting on his own acting career, he also shared that he watched his debut film as an actor, Ananta Bhalobasha, directed by Sohanur Rahman Sohan, across two cinemas—Madhumita and Abhisar—splitting his viewing time between the halls.
Actor Arifin Shuvo fondly recalled watching Qayamat Theke Qayamat, directed by Sohanur Rahman Sohan and starring Salman Shah and Moushumi, with his family at Purabi Cinema Hall in Mymensingh. “It was my first film in a theatre,” he said. “Experiencing it with my family made it all the more memorable.”
Shariful Raj shared memories from 1996 when he watched Sotyer Mrityu Nei, directed by Chotku Ahmed and featuring Salman Shah, in a Sylhet cinema hall. “I cannot remember the hall’s name, but the memory of seeing my first film with family remains etched in my mind. I have watched countless films since, yet that initial experience is unforgettable,” he said.
Actress Tasnia Farin recounted her first cinema visit to watch Shrabon Megher Din, directed by the acclaimed Humayun Ahmed, in 1999. She saw the film in Cox’s Bazar with her entire family. “I was very young, so I don’t remember the hall’s name, but it was a delightful experience,” she said, reflecting on the joy of that early cinematic outing.
First Cinema Experiences of Bangladeshi Stars
| Actor / Actress | Film | Year | Director | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shakib Khan | Shabana Madam (title unknown) | Childhood | – | Narayanganj | First cinema experience; attended with mother |
| Shakib Khan | Ananta Bhalobasha | – | Sohanur Rahman Sohan | Madhumita & Abhisar halls | First film as actor; split viewing between two cinemas |
| Arifin Shuvo | Qayamat Theke Qayamat | – | Sohanur Rahman Sohan | Purabi Cinema, Mymensingh | Viewed with family |
| Shariful Raj | Sotyer Mrityu Nei | 1996 | Chotku Ahmed | Cinema hall, Sylhet | Family viewing; hall name forgotten |
| Tasnia Farin | Shrabon Megher Din | 1999 | Humayun Ahmed | Cox’s Bazar | Watched with family; hall name forgotten |
These recollections underscore how the first experience of cinema—its sights, sounds, and shared family moments—remains a cherished memory, even for those who grew up to become icons of Dhallywood. Beyond the films themselves, these early outings shaped their enduring love for storytelling and the magic of the silver screen.