PHOTO: ZIAUDDIN SHIPLU

SHARMIN JOYA

Born in Dhaka’s Mirpur and raised in Kushtia—the land of Lalon Shah—actor Rizvi Rizu’s journey into the spotlight is anything but conventional. Long before stepping in front of the camera, he quietly nurtured a passion for music, a chapter of his life that remains largely unknown to many.

Currently, the actor is drawing fresh attention for his striking performance as Tonmoy in Raihan Rafi’s Pressure Cooker , once again proving his ability to leave a lasting impression on audiences. Earlier, he won hearts for his performance in Hawa , Feu , Dui Shaw , and Priyo Maloti .

Beginning with Pressure Cooker , he said, “This is one character that feels like a blessing to me, and I am grateful to Rafi for giving me this role,” Rizvi said, reflecting with quiet gratitude. The response to his latest performance has been overwhelming—something he deeply values. For him, this role holds a special place, one that will remain close to his heart for many reasons.

“Even after I completed the role, parts of the character stayed with me—the calmness, the silence, the emotional depth, and the void evoked by his story. Tonmoy made me wonder if I could be like him. But over time, I realised how much of him already exists in me. I found myself connecting with him in many ways,” he shared.

Speaking about the audience’s reaction, Rizvi revealed an interesting contrast between on-screen recognition and real-life anonymity. Despite the buzz on social media and praise from senior and acclaimed artistes, he remains grounded.

“Interestingly, after most of my releases, I change my look back to normal, as many of my appearances are quite different and, at times, unconventional—depending on the character’s demands. People often don’t recognise me in person. When I go to theatres, I see audiences surrounding my co-artistes for selfies or conversations, while I go unnoticed,” he said with a smile. “Only a few people recognise me and come forward with appreciation. But to be honest, that doesn’t matter much. What truly matters is when audiences connect with my performance—when they believe in the character I’ve brought to life. That, to me, is the greatest achievement.”

We took him back to where it all began—not as an actor, but as a musician.

“It was around 2011. I was part of a band as the lead vocalist. Arafat Mohsin Nidhi was on drums, Shovon—Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s brother—played guitar, and Prithu was our bassist,” he recalled. Those early days, however, were far from easy. Financial struggles often made it difficult to arrange money even for practice sessions.

At one point, he returned to Kushtia—a place he still associates with a deep sense of peace. “I went back for a while. Kushtia has always given me a kind of calm I can’t explain,” he said.

He later returned to Dhaka and joined a production house, a move that would quietly reshape his path. Through that, he was introduced to Mejbaur Rahman Sumon. “He gave me my first break as Parkes in Hawa —a role that stayed with me for a long time,” he added.

Reflecting on his journey, Rizvi emphasised how unplanned it all was. “I was never formally trained in music, nor did I come from theatre or have any acting background. I consider it a God-gifted ability,” he said. “My parents used to sing, though not professionally, and two of my uncles were trained in Nazrul Sangeet. So perhaps it was always there—I just nurtured it over time. And of course, my environment played a big role.”

Pulled by his love for art, Rizvi made a difficult but defining choice—he left behind a stable corporate job to follow his passion. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy to survive just by acting, but I still took that risk,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve reached a place where people recognise me instantly, but that’s okay—I want to keep doing my craft with honesty.”

What keeps him going is the work itself. He isn’t chasing fame as much as he is searching for meaningful roles—ones that challenge him and allow him to immerse fully.

“I’m open to any medium, as long as the character excites me and gives me space to explore,” he shared. “Because for me, it’s never just about acting—it’s about becoming the character and living it.”