Kazi Sami Hasan recently debuted in the film industry with Abdullah Mohammad Saad's sensational production "Rehana Maryam Noor", which is the first Bangladeshi film to be officially selected in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Being a businessperson, the actor has also developed a keen industry in filmmaking and acting over the years. He first appeared on TV in "Modhuren Shomapoyet" in 2008. Written and directed by Ashfaque Nipun, the fiction brought together Tahsan and Mithila together on screen for the very first time, where Sami played a short but memorable role of Mithila's on-screen boyfriend. He also directed a short film titled "Fruit Cake". In a candid chat with The Daily Star, the actor shares his experience of working in "Rehana Maryam Noor".

Tell us a bit about your role in "Rehana Maryam Noor".

I play the character of Dr Arifin in the film. Dr Arifin is a very politically connected doctor and projects strength and brings in a sense of resilience in the film.

How was your experience while shooting for this film?

We had to take single-take shots which were very tough. Bringing harmony among actors, the technical aspects such as cinematography, lights, sounds, while satisfying the director Abdullah Mohammad Saad's expectations from each shot was sky-high, but overall, "Rehana Maryam Noor" was extremely rewarding as an actor. There were times when we had long shots and having to do it in a single shot sometimes took us the whole day.

"Rehana Maryam Noor" is the first Bangladeshi film to feature in Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section. How do you feel about this achievement?

Since the first day of shooting, I had realised that this film was going to go big. The way the film is shot and the angle Saad is chosen to project this story was fascinating and very unique to me. Being a film bug, I have come across many such stories on the international platform but the way this film is made will be a delight for the viewers. This is indeed a great achievement for the Bangladeshi film industry, especially when it comes to projecting ourselves as a part of the global film fraternity.

What are your future plans?

Right now, I am just trying to absorb the whole buzz created by "Rehana Maryam Noor". With the pandemic, it is rather unfortunate for us and most of the world to have seen hardships. However, the contentment and enthusiasm are worth treasuring, and that is the feeling I intend to enjoy for a while.