Bappy Chowdhury (born Bappy Kumar Saha; 6 December 1994) is a Bangladeshi actor who works in Dhallywood films.
Chowdhury began his acting career with the box-office hit Bhalobasar Rong (2012). He went on to star in successful films including Prem Prem Paglami, Tobuo Bhalobashi (both 2013), Sweetheart (2016), Apon Manush (2017), Nayok (2018), Daag Hridoye and Paglami (both 2019). He also played Sultan in the 2017 film Sultana Bibiana, which initially underperformed but has gained public recognition over the years. In 2021, Chowdhury won a Dhallywood Film and Music award in the Best Actor category.
Early life and education Chowdhury was born on 6 December 1994, in Narayanganj, Dacca District, Bangladesh (now in Narayanganj District). His father, Noni Gopal Saha, is a businessman and social worker, and his mother, Swapan Saha (d. 2024), was a housewife. Since his childhood, Chowdhury aspired to be an actor, inspired by Salman Shah and Nayok Raz Razzak.
Born in a Hindu family, Chowdhury describes himself as a religious individual who believes in God. He studied journalism at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, and joined NTV as an apprentice journalist in 2018.
Career Chowdhury made his acting debut in 2012 with Bhalobasar Rong, opposite Mahiya Mahi. The film was a major financial success. For his 2013 works—Onnorokom Bhalobasha, Prem Prem Paglaami and Tobou Bhalobashi—Chowdhury earned three Freelancer Rubel nominations in the Best Actor category. The 2013 commercial success Jotil Prem starred him opposite Achol. Two of his subsequent films, Lover Number One and Ajob Prem (both 2015), were remakes of Indian movies. In 2016, he starred with Bidya Sinha Saha Mim in two films: Sweetheart and Ami Tomar Hote Chai; the latter was a moderate success. The same year, he also featured in Apon Manush with Pori Moni and in One Way with Bobby.
In 2017, he reunited with Achol in Sultana Bibiana; although the film was unsuccessful, he ranks Sultan amongst the most memorable roles of his career. Chowdhury starred opposite Adhora Khan in Nayok (2018), which became a box office hit. The thriller Dongiri (2019) saw him switch from romantic to action roles; the film proved popular with the audience. His other two releases of 2019 were critical and financial successes: Daag Hridoye and Paglami. Chowdhury's role in the liberation drama Priyo Kamala (2020) was well received by critics. He did not have any other releases in 2020–21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned to the screen in 2022 with Shoshurbari Zindabad 2, opposite Apu Biswas.
Chowdhury then collaborated with director Kazi Hayat on Joy Bangla (2023; co-starring Zahara Mitu). It was a highly anticipated release, based on Muntassir Mamoon's novel of the same name. However, the film failed to attract an audience, and so did his other release of 2023, Shotru.
December 2024 saw the release of Chowdhury's delayed thriller film, Danger Zone, which was awaiting release for seven years. Directed by Belal Sani, it stars Chowdhury opposite Falguni Rahman Jolly.
Upcoming projects In February 2022, New Age reported that Chowdhury is simultaneously working in eleven productions. He will be playing the leading role in Ashraf Shishir's under-production film, 570, based on the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. His other upcoming films include Kustigir, which pairs him with Zahara Mitu.
In the media Chowdhury is frequently referred to in the media as "The Sultan of Dhallywood", a nickname he has earned from his character in Sultana Bibiana (2017). Shah Alam Shazu of The Daily Star describes Chowdhury as "one of the film industry's most sought-after names [who] created a craze around him[self] in a relatively short period of time." Most of Chowdhury's films have been commercially successful.
Following his debut in 2012, Chowdhury went on to act in 16 films in the first three years of his career, breaking the record of actor Salman Shah, who earlier had starred in 13 films in the same timespan. While he initially became known for playing romantic roles, he later expanded to negative characters with One Way (2016) and in the action genre with Dongiri (2019). Critics have nonetheless derided his lack of versatility; the actor has expressed his wish to play more experimental roles in the future.
Chowdhury has advocated the upliftment of Bangladeshi art and cinema on multiple occasions. When Dhallywood faced financial adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was among the highly-paid actors who lowered their fees to keep the industry afloat. In 2021, he and Shakib Khan jointly won a Best Actor award at the Dhallywood Film and Music ceremony. In 2023, Chowdhury was awarded in the special category at the 20th Tele Cine Awards, held in Kolkata.
On behalf of BRAC, Chowdhury visited the Rohingya refugee camps in 2018. He later described the visit as "one of the most eye-opening experiences of [his] life".
Filmography Year Film Role Director Notes2012 Bhalobasar Rong Bappy Shaheen SumonDebut film2013 Onnorokom Bhalobasha Shuvo Shaheen Sumon Jotil Prem Jibon Chowdhury Shaheen Sumon Romeo Romeo Raju Chowdhury Prem Prem Paglami Romeo Shafi Uddin Shafi Tobuo Bhalobashi Songram Montazur Rahman Akbar Ki Prem Dekhaila Sami Shah Mohammad Songram Inchi Inchi Prem Shuvo Raju Chowdhury2014 Ki Darun Dekhte Apon Wajed Ali Sumon Dobir Saheber Songsar Kuddus Jakir Hossain Raju Honeymoon Rusho Shafi Uddin Shafi I Don't Care Surjo Mohammad Hossain Jaimy Love Station Nibir Shahadat Hossain Liton Onek Sadher Moyna Moti Jakir Hossain Raju2015 Gunda: The Terrorist Jibon Ispahani Arif Jahan Lover Number One Badshah Faruk Omar Ajob Prem Rafi Wajed Ali Sumon Epar Opar Shimul Delwar Jahan Jhantu2016 Sweetheart Zishan Wajed Ali Sumon Onek Dame Kena Jakir Hossain Raju Baje Chele: The Loafer Reshad Chowdhury Monirul Islam Sohel & Rahim Babu One Way Emon Iftakar Chowdhury Ami Tomar Hote Chai Abir Anonno Mamun 2017 Koto Swapno Koto Asha Jibon Wakil Ahmed Missed Call Roman Shafi Uddin Shafi Sultana Bibiana Sultan Himel Ashraf Dulabhai Zindabad Sagor Montazur Rahman AkbarApon Manush Robi Shah Alam Mondal2018Poloke Poloke Tomake Chai Tamim S.M. Shahnawaz ShanuNayok Abhi Ispahani Arif JahanAsmani Azad / Asman M. Shakhawat Hossain2019 Daag Hridoye Shohag Tarek ShikderPaglami Prem Komol SarkarDongiri Shah Alam Mondal2020Priyo Komola Priyo Shahriar Nazim Joy2022Shoshurbari Zindabad 2 Abir Debashish Biswas2023 Joy Bangla Kazi Hayat ShotruDurjoySumon Dhar2024Danger Zone Belal Sani2025 Kustigir Shaheen SumonTBA 570 Ashraf Shishir
Awards and nominations Year Awards Category Film Result 2013 Freelancer Rubel First Stage Nomination for Best Film Actor Onnorokom Bhalobasha Second Stage Nomination for Best Film Actor Prem Prem Paglaami Third Stage Nomination for Best Film Actor Tobou Bhalobashi 2021Dhallywood Film and Music AwardsBest Actor202320th Tele Cine Awards KolkataSpecial
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