Ferdous Ahmed (born 7 June 1974)[1] is a Bangladeshi film actor, producer,[2][3] and politician.[4] He served as an MP representing the Dhaka-10 constituency.[5]
Ferdous Ahmed | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ahmed dancing at a programme in 2016 | |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 29 January 2024 – 6 August 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Constituency | Dhaka-10 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 June 1974 Comilla, Bangladesh |
| Political party | Bangladesh Awami League |
| Spouse |
Tania Ferdous (m. 2004) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka Adamjee Cantonment College |
| Occupation | Actor, producer and politician |
| Awards | Bangladesh National Film Awards (4 times) |
His work includes Hothat Brishti (1998), Kokhono Megh Kokhono Brishti (2003), Chandrokotha (2003), Nondito Noroke (2006), Amar Swapna Tumi (2005), Moner Manush (2010), and Guerrilla (2011). He won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actor five times for his roles in the films Hothat Brishti (1998), Gangajatra (2009), Kusum Kusum Prem (2011), Ek Cup Cha (2014) and Putro (2018).[6][7][8][9]
In November 2023, Ahmed was nominated as Awami League's candidate for the Dhaka-10 constituency, replacing the incumbent Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, in the 2024 Bangladeshi selection.[10]
Career
editFerdous Ahmed has become one of the highest-paid actors in Bangladesh.[11] Ahmed was introduced in the film industry by choreographer Amir Hossain Babu.[12] He debuted in the film Buker Vetor Agun. But Hothat Brishti (1998), directed by Basu Chatterjee, was Ahmed's first massive success.[13] He won his first Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actor for the lead role in the film.[6] He then acted Chatterjee's two other films – Chupi Chupi (2001) and Tak Jhal Mishti (2002).
In 2002, he appeared in Azadi Hasanat Firoz's romance Sobar Upore Prem.[14] In 2003, he performed in Chandrokotha and Kal Shokale. He appeared in Bachelor (2004) and in Meher Nigar (the first film made from the writing of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam). In 2005, he performed in Rakkhushi.[citation needed] In 2006, Ahmed appeared in two films by Didarul Alam. The first was made from Humayun Ahmed's novel, Nondito Noroke, directed by Belal Ahmed.[15]
Ferdous Ahmed owns a film production company, Nuzhat Films,[16] television production house CinemaScope and a wing of event planning studio.[12] He produced his first film Ek Cup Cha (2014).[17][18] which produced Postmaster 71.[17]
Personal life
editFerdous is married to Tania Ferdous, a pilot in profession, since 2004.[19][20] Together they have two daughters, Nuzhat and Namira.[20]
Controversy
editDuring the run-up to the 2019 Indian general election, Ahmed visited West Bengal, India and was campaigning for chief minister and All India Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. The Indian Union Ministry of Home Affairs revoked his business visa, in turn.[21]
In September 2024, Ferdous Ahmed became embroiled in a controversy after leaked WhatsApp messages from a group named "Alo Ashbei" surfaced online.[22] The group, reportedly initiated by Ahmed and former state minister Mohammad Ali Arafat, included numerous pro-Awami League entertainers, politicians, and journalists.[23] The leaked chats exposed members discussing strategies against the student-led anti-discrimination protests that took place in July 2024, which called for reform in the government job quota system and later evolved into a broader movement against the Awami League government and then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[24]
The messages revealed in the chats, which included violent and provocative language, sparked outrage among netizens and within the entertainment industry. For instance, actress Aruna Biswas, another member of the group, suggested that they should "dump hot waters on the protesters", a comment she later clarified was misinterpreted.[25]
Filmography
editReferences
edit- ^ "Ferdous Ahmed". Bangladesh Parliament. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ Shah Alam Shazu (7 June 2017). "Happy Birthday Ferdous!". The Daily Star. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ^ "Who is Ferdous Ahmed?". The Indian Express. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Ferdous gets perfect ten in debut electoral victory". Dhaka Tribune. 7 January 2024.
- ^ ঢাকা-১০ আসনে বিজয়ী হলেন ফেরদৌস. The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ a b জাতীয় চলচ্চিত্র পুরস্কার প্রাপ্তদের নামের তালিকা (১৯৭৫-২০১২) [List of the winners of National Film Awards (1975-2012)]. Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (in Bengali). Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ "Guerrilla bags 10 National Film Awards". The Daily Star. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ "29 artistes get Nat'l Film Award 2014". The Daily Star. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ "National Film Awards for 2017 and 2018 announced". The Daily Star. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
- ^ "Actor Ferdous gets AL ticket from Dhaka-10". Prothom Alo. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "With four national awards, 200 movies, actor Ferdous popular in Bangladesh, Bengal". The Indian Express. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Breaking Cultural Barriers". Star Weekend. 6 May 2005. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ "Hothat Brishti made me the Ferdous I am". The Daily Star. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "Shobar Upore Prem". Bangladesh Film Archive. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Ferdous to be honoured at Bangla Fest in Canada". Daily Sun. Dhaka. 11 May 2017.
- ^ "Ferdous: Dedication and earnestness are prerequisites for making good films". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ a b "Keeping up with Ferdous". The Daily Star. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
- ^ ""I had no intention of being an actor" -- Ferdous". The Daily Star. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ অ্যাডিলেডে সপরিবারে ফেরদৌস [Ferdous with family in Adelaide]. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
- ^ a b Purohit, Devadeep (18 July 2018). "Bangladesh superstar Ferdous Ahmed is still paying the Lok Sabha poll price". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Ahuja, Namrata Biji (16 April 2019). "Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed in hot water after campaigning for TMC". The Week. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ "Shock and surprise grip entertainment arena after chats discovery". Daily Sun. September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Alo Ashbei WhatsApp group message leaked". The Daily Star. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "'Throw hot water on protesters': 'Alo Ashbei' artistes' WhatsApp group under fire". The Daily Star. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Leaked conversation of artists speaking against student movement goes viral". The Business Standard. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.