DU Film Student Makes Striking Big-Screen Acting Debut in Bonolata Express

Sifat Rahman, a fourth-year student of the Department of Television, Film and Photography at the University of Dhaka, has made his long-awaited debut on the silver screen through director Tanim Noor's much-anticipated film Bonolata Express. Portraying the character 'Shakil', Rahman has captivated audiences with a screen presence that spans approximately 20 minutes, earning considerable praise from viewers and industry observers alike.

Though Rahman had been involved in filmmaking well before enrolling at Dhaka University, his big-screen debut has arrived not as a director, but as an actor. His filmmaking credentials, however, are firmly established. In his very first year at university, his one-take short film Character Artist was selected for the 21st Dhaka International Film Festival in 2021, alongside several other national and international festivals. More recently, his short film Not A Dream!! earned him the Best Director award at the 1st Jagannath University Short Film Festival in 2025.

Alongside his passion for filmmaking, Rahman has always harboured a keen interest in acting. He began by appearing in short films made by his classmates and later formalised his craft by completing training at the Prachyanat School of Acting and Design (Batch 44) in 2023. Having progressed from student short films and theatre stages, he has now stepped onto the cinema screen with Bonolata Express and audiences have taken notice.

About the Character

Describing his role, Rahman explained, "My character's name is 'Shakil'. In my view, Shakil is a good friend and simultaneously the second most foolish person in the world, the first being his friend Jafar. Shakil, Jafar and Ruby are three friends travelling on the Bonolata Express train to sit for their university admission exams."

He also noted that these characters do not appear in Humayun Ahmed's original novel. The screenwriters introduced them specifically to bridge connections across different age groups, in a manner consistent with the spirit of the source material.

The Road to Casting

Rahman was selected for the role through a rigorous three-stage audition process. He credits his training at Prachyanat School of Acting and Design as the foundation that made this opportunity possible. While he had previously appeared in short films, Bonolata Express marks his first professional acting project.

Reflecting on the experience, Rahman said, "I do not think a bigger debut is possible for a new actor. I am deeply grateful to director Tanim bhai and screenwriters Swadin bhai and Samiul bhai. Studying film, I had dreamed of being part of a major project before completing my undergraduate degree but I never imagined it would happen as an actor."

On Set with Industry Veterans

Bonolata Express features an ensemble cast of celebrated performers, including Mosharraf Karim, Chanchal Chowdhury, Sabila Nur, Shariful Raj, Zakia Bari Momo, Azmeri Haque Badhon, Shyamal Mawla, Intekhaab Dinar, A.K. Azad Setu, Tamim Karim and Labanya Chowdhury, among others.

Speaking about the experience of working alongside actors he grew up watching, Rahman shared, "My very first day on set included Mosharraf Karim, Shariful Raj, Sabila Nur and Shyamal Mawla. I was incredibly nervous at first, but once I was on set, they made everything so comfortable and easy. Everyone was exceptionally warm and welcoming. By the last day, it felt as though we were all one family as if we had journeyed together for a long time."

Looking Ahead

While filmmaking remains his primary ambition, Rahman expressed his intention to continue pursuing acting should opportunities arise. Addressing audiences, he said, "Bonolata Express is our story, a film that belongs to all of us. It is the kind of film worth watching with family and friends at the cinema. I hope it will make you laugh and feel at home. Long live Bangladeshi cinema."

Bonolata Express is now playing in cinemas nationwide.