Renowned actor Afran Nisho has garnered his career with unparalleled appreciation for his versatility throughout the years.  Known for his realistic, dramatic performances, the actor's recent appearance in director Shihab Shaheen's Chorki original series "Morichika" has been rather transformational not only for him, but also for his immense fan base. In a candid chat with The Daily Star, Nisho talks about his transition as an actor with "Morichika", his upcoming projects, and more.

Why did you choose to play the role of Salaam Sharif Babu in "Morichika"?

As actors, we always tend to look for roles that have a dominant presence, both in terms of screen time and importance to the story. However, I feel that sometimes certain characters that may not be the lead roles, offer more ground to experiment. Not only do such roles broaden the range of an artiste, but they also help an artiste understand different perceptions. Although Salaam Sharif Babu did not have much screen time, the character was equally challenging and exciting to play. Overcoming challenges as an actor is rewarding for me.

How did you prepare for this role, and how was your shooting experience?

Being able to get into the psyche of a character always helps during filming. Once I understand how the character thinks, acts, and reacts, I don't feel that I have to act. Rather, I just respond as my character would, and all else falls into place sequentially. After numerous discussions with Shihab Shaheen, I realised that Babu, despite his deviously charming persona, had no ethics, and fear never controlled his actions. Following along the footsteps of my idol Humayun Faridee, who was known for his negative roles, the character of Babu gave me the opportunity to explore new avenues.

Afran Nisho plays Salaam Sharif Babu in Morichika.

Your dialogue "Danober Binash Nai, Amar Binash Nai" has been trending on social media since the trailer was released. Tell us a bit more about the reactions you have received from the audience.

This dialogue was intended to convey the social message – there will always be a war between good and evil, and the demons residing with us and our society cannot be uprooted so easily. While crafting Babu, we never expected the audience to fall in love with him. His character has taken people by surprise, especially in the second half of "Morichika", which projects a drastic transition. Yet, Babu has left a mark in the minds of the audience, and that is all that matters.

What are your upcoming projects?

This Eid, I am looking forward to a number of productions, including Mizanur Rahman Aryan's "Hello Sunchen?", Shihab Shaheen's romantic comedy  "Plus 4.5", Rubel Hassan's "Ghotona Shotto", Kajal Arefin Ome's "Apon" and Jakaria Showkhin's "Ek Mutho Prem". I have also worked in multiple productions by Vicky Zahid, including the psychological thriller "Kaikobaad", "Punorjonmo", "Ditiyo Shuchona", and "Chirokaal Ajj".