A bright star of Bangladesh's acting world, veteran actress Dilara Zaman, recently spoke candidly about her professional life and personal experiences. According to her, acting is not just a profession; it is a profound process of embodying a character within oneself. A true artist succeeds only when they can intimately blend each character and dialogue with their own emotions, bringing it to life on screen. This process of internalization helps an artist achieve genuine dedication and love for their work.
Dilara Zaman expressed this realization recently while sitting amidst nature on a film set. She stated that an artist cannot achieve completeness if their mind fails to encompass all inner feelings. Every dialogue and character must be internalized. This capacity for absorption and the ability to delve deep into a character are what elevate an actor from ordinary to extraordinary. From her long career in acting, she believes that this dedication has kept her memorable to audiences and will continue to do so in the future.
Regarding her personal life, she revealed that she does not own any land in Dhaka. After much struggle, she managed to buy a small flat. While once the surroundings of that flat were open and airy, over time, one high-rise building after another was constructed, rendering it devoid of light and air. The countless concrete jungles around have made her small flat almost dark, where neither sufficient natural light nor fresh air can penetrate. This situation significantly impacts her daily life.
She finds liberation from this urban confinement when she comes to an open environment or close to nature for shooting. Dilara Zaman said, "When I come to such an open environment, amidst nature, for a shoot, I cannot restrain myself. I sit outside. Everyone tells me to go inside, go inside. I say, 'Just let me breathe deeply.'" These words reflect her inner suffocation and deep love for nature. These open spaces provide her not only physical but also mental rejuvenation, which makes her acting persona even more vibrant.
Currently, due to her age and physical limitations, Dilara Zaman cannot work as regularly as before. Nevertheless, her interest in good work has not diminished in the slightest. She believes that every artist's heart yearns for good work, pleading like a person in famine. Her situation is the same. Even if her body doesn't fully cooperate, she wishes to live long in the hearts of the audience through a memorable piece of work. The belief that a memorable character or work will immortalize her is strong within her.
The veteran actress also emphasized her integrity in acting. She stated, "Whatever work I do, I do it with honesty; I don't cause anyone distress." She further added that she is ready to work as many times as it takes until the director is satisfied. There is no room for compromise or negotiation. Throughout her long acting career, she has always strived to be honest and dedicated to her profession. According to her, honesty, hard work, and effort are indispensable in any endeavor. Believing oneself to be great with just a little praise makes it impossible to progress as an artist; instead, it obstructs the path to improvement.
Dilara Zaman believes that there is no end to learning in acting. Every day brings an opportunity to learn something new. Just as the current generation of artists learns from the previous generation, she herself learns much from the newcomers. This mutual exchange of knowledge and experience keeps the artistic flow vibrant and enriches it. It is not just a one-way process but beneficial for both.
The veteran actress also believes that contemporary artists have many more opportunities due to technology. She said, "Those who work now, I would say they are very fortunate. Because of this technology, they can learn and know many things. We didn't have that opportunity in our time." She hopes that the new generation of artists will utilize these modern facilities to produce even better work and deliver higher-quality artistry than her generation. Her comments signify her trust and good wishes for the new generation.
