# Chanchal Chowdhury

Suchinta Chowdhury Chanchal (born June 1, 1974), better known as Chanchal Chowdhury (Bengali: চঞ্চল চৌধুরী), listen, is a Bangladeshi actor. He gained recognition with television roles in late 2000s, and went on to become one of the most popular leading men of Bangla cinema in the following decade. He is the recipient of several accolades, including three National Film Awards and seven Meril Prothom Alo Awards.
Born in Pabna, Chowdhury graduated from University of Dhaka and initially served as a lecturer at UODA while acting in some Aranyak Nattyadal stage productions. He had a breakthrough with the play Che'r Cycle (2003) which was followed by prolific work in television. His popular roles in the dramas Shurjer Hashi (2005) and Talpatar Shepai (2006) culminated in a film career starting with the critically praised Rupkothar Golpo (2006).
Over the following period of time, Chowdhury gained reputation for being selective about his projects. He headlined films such as the musical Monpura (2009), the thrillers Aynabaji (2016) and Debi (2018), and the mystery-drama Hawa (2022)—all four of which rank among the highest-grossing Bangladeshi films of all time. His other notable works include the television dramas Vober Hat (2007) and Sakin Sarisuri (2009); the musical drama film Moner Manush (2010) and the Mrinal Sen-biopic Padatik (2024); and the web productions Taqdeer (2021), Dui Diner Duniya and Karagar (both 2022). Chowdhury is a celebrity endorser of brands and products and is also involved with social causes related to women, children and disabled people.

## Early life

Chanchal was born and raised in a Hindu family of Kamarhaat village, Pabna, Bangladesh. His father, Radha Gobinda Chowdhury (died 2022) was a teacher, while mother Nomita is a housewife. Chowdhury passed his SSC examination from Rajbari Government High School in 1990 and HSC examination from Rajbari Government College in 1992. In the same year he got admission in the Department of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka and gradually developed an interest in acting.
Chowdhury settled in Dhaka in 1993. Post graduation, he served as a lecturer of Fine Arts in University of Development Alternative.
Born as Suchinta Chowdhury Chanchal, he uses "Chanchal Chowdhury" as his screen name.

## Acting career
### Early work: stage and television (1996–2004)

Chowdhury joined Aranyak Nattyadal, a theater group headed by actor Mamunur Rashid, in 1996. Chowdhury made his theatre debut with Kalo Daitya, and went on to work in a number of plays, including the popular drama Shangkranti (1998). He had six roles in Che'r Cycle (2003), a Bengali Theatre production that was applauded by audience. The actor considers it as one of his best works on stage.
Chowdhury appeared on television first in 2000, briefly playing a journalist in Rashid's Shundori. His first leading role came the same year in the drama Grash, directed by Faridur Rahman. It was in 2004 that actor Fazlur Rahman Babu introduced Chowdhury to directors Gias Uddin Selim and Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. Chowdhury subsequently found more work in television dramas; his notable roles of this period include Selim's Shurjer Hashi (2005).

### Public recognition through dramas and early films (2005–15)

Chowdhury gained wider recognition for his two collaborations with Farooki: the commercial Maa (2005) and the drama Talpatar Shepai (2006). For Maa, he won the Meril Prothom Alo Award in Best Model category in 2006. A starring role in the drama Vober Hat (2007) brought him further popularity, and he then went on to work with directors Salauddin Lavlu and Saidul Anam Tutul. His acting in Lavlu's Sakin Sarisuri (2009) was praised by critics. The actor worked prolifically in television between late 2000s to early 2010s, and also started appearing frequently in Eid-special TV plays.
Chowdhury's first film was the Tauquir Ahmed-directorial Rupkothar Golpo (2006), which earned him a Meril Prothom Alo award in Best Actor (Critics' Choice) category. He won his first National Film Award for his breakthrough performance in the 2009 musical Monpura. He followed this success with the Indo-Bangladeshi production Moner Manush (2010). In 2012, he appeared in Farooki's film Television, and also made his debut in playback singing, alongside Meher Afroz Shaon, in the war film Pita (2012).

### Continued success (2016–22)

The 2016 crime thriller Aynabaji, directed by Amitabh Reza, won Chowdhury his second National Film Award. He played a con-man who serves as body double to convicted criminals. Zahid Akbar of The Daily Star commended him for "performing remarkably and setting new acting standards". The psychological thriller Debi (2018) starred Chowdhury as Misir Ali opposite Jaya Ahsan, directed by Anam Biswas. Based on Humayun Ahmed's novel of the same name, the film was well-received by critics and became a box-office success. In 2019, Chowdhury starred in a regular television series titled Kaaler Jatra that aired on BTV. Written by Mamunur Rashid, it saw Chowdhury playing the leader of a struggling theatre troupe. The next year in December, he re-performed his play Che'r Cycle on stage.
The 2020 thriller series Taqdeer, directed by Syed Ahmed Shawki and starring Chowdhury in the titular role, was well-received by audience. The streaming channel Hoichoi's subscriptions reportedly doubled after its release. His acting in Taqdeer won him a Blender's Choice – The Daily Star Award for best male performance. The same year, he also won the Breakthrough Performance of the Year award at the 2021 Hoichoi ceremony, for his work in Taqdeer and Boli—a web series in which he starred that year.
Previously having collaborated on Aynabaji, Chowdhury and director Amitabh Reza reunited in the Chorki web-film Munshigiri (2021). He also played the central role in Giasuddin Selim's romantic thriller Paap Punno, which was released in 2022. For the web film Dui Diner Duniya (2022), directed by Anam Biswas, Chowdhury and Fazlur Rahman Babu received rave reviews for their complementing performances, and the former won a Best Actor (Critics' Choice) trophy at Meril Prothom Alo award ceremony.
Chowdhury refers to the role of a mysterious, dumb-mute convict in Karagar (2022) as the most challenging one of his career. While the series opened to mixed-to-positive reviews, his acting earned significant critical praise and popularity, both in Bangladesh as well as in India. Further acclaim came for Chowdhury as Chan Majhi in Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's directorial debut, Hawa (2022). Among numerous accolades, he won his third National Film Award for this performance. Commercially, Hawa was a domestic blockbuster, and also attracted an audience in Kolkata and USA. At the 95th Academy Awards, Hawa was submitted as the Bangladeshi nomination in Best International Feature Film category, and was also shortlisted for 80th Golden Globe Awards. In December 2022, Chowdhury made a comeback on stage with a supporting role in Rarang, a play based on the life of Alfred Soren.

### Recent work (2023–present)

Chowdhury made a cameo appearance as Sheikh Lutfar Rahman in the biopic Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023), directed by Shyam Benegal. In 2024, Chowdhury starred in another Chorki web-film, The Last Defenders of Monogamy, directed by Farooki. It opened to mixed reviews, with critics finding Chowdhury's character to be poorly written. He subsequently made a cameo appearance in Raihan Rafi's top-grossing crime thriller, Toofan (2024).
Chowdhury's performance in Karagar led to his casting as Mrinal Sen in Srijit Mukherji's biographical film, Padatik. Chowdhury stated that getting introduced to Sen's ideals and principles while researching for the role was his "biggest reward" during the production. Padatik opened to generally favourable reviews in August 2024, and so did the actor's work. Saptorshi Roy of Anandabazar Patrika particularly noted Chowdhury for adapting Sen's mannerisms accurately. Suparna Majumder of Sangbad Pratidin similarly praised Chowdhury, but criticised his inconsistent makeup.
Chowdhury will next star in Sukorno Shahed Dhiman's upcoming Chorki web series, Feu.

## Personal life

Chowdhury met his wife Shanta, a physician by profession, in 2005. They got married legally on August 7, 2007, and then had a Hindu wedding ceremony on August 22. Shanta gave birth to their son, Shaishob Rudra Shudda, in 2009.
Shudda joined the entertainment industry in 2022 playing a minor character in the drama Sushil Family. He subsequently appeared alongside his father in the drama Iti Tomar Ami and the web-film The Last Defenders of Monogamy (both 2024).

## Public image and other work

Writing for The Daily Star, Shah Alam Shazu comments that Chowdhury's performance in Aynabaji (2016) "propelled him as everyone's favourite actor", while his portrayal of Misir Ali in Debi (2018) "made him synonymous to the role for the current generation of Misir Ali fans". Chowdhury's mentor Mamunur Rashid defines him as an "ideal actor", noting that his hardwork and perseverance brought him success, while Syed Ahmed Shawki, who directed him in Karagar, named Chowdhury as "one of the finest actors of this time". In national media outlets, Chowdhury is often described as one of the highly acclaimed and successful actors of Bangla cinema.
In addition to Bangladesh, Chowdhury has acquired a significant fanbase in the Indian Bengal, where his films have drawn popularity and have also been remade by local Indian film industries. Four films starring Chowdhury—Monpura (2009), Ayanbaji (2016), Debi (2018) and Hawa (2022)—rank among the highest-grossing Bangladeshi films, and the latter two also are top-grossing Bangladeshi films in the international market. Agnideb Bandyopadhyay of The Telegraph credits the actor as the foremost propeller of Bengali media into the global scene, noting, "There is a new dimension to Chanchal Chowdhury that is unlocked with every project that he embarks on, where his fandom knows no borders or lines." In 2023, Chowdhury received the Shera Bangali (Best Bengali) Award in Kolkata at ABP Ananda Shera Bangali Shommanona ceremony.
Chowdhury has garnered a reputation for being extremely selective about his projects. In 2009, after Monpura became a major hit, he was flooded by over 150 film offers but declined all of them. In his own words, "out of a sea of offers, I pick the one that resonates with my artistic soul". A writer for The Business Standard praises the actor's quality-over-quantity approach, contrasting it with his contemporaries who "are more worried about how they measure up to Shah Rukh Khan and Tom Cruise".
Chowdhury is a celebrity endorser of multiple brands, including Bashundhra Tissue and Chik herbal hair color. In 2016, Chowdhury and actress Nusrat Imrose Tisha became ambassadors for mobile phone service company Robi Axiata Limited, for a period of two years. He and Tisha are also part of the Ritu project that aims at spreading public health awareness on menstruation, and he is associated with Bashundhra's campaign on improving public perception of autistic people. In August 2022, Chowdhury became the ambassador of Shikhbo, Jitbo, an educational startup aiming to enrich learning experience for students.

## Works
### Films

* Denotes films that have not yet been released
| Year | Title | Director | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | Rupkothar Golpo | Tauquir Ahmed | | Won — Meril Prothom Alo Award for Critics Choice Best Actor (Film) |
| 2009 | Monpura | Giasuddin Selim | Shonai | Won — Bangladesh National Film Award for Best actor, Meril Prothom Alo Award for Best Actor (Film) |
| 2010 | Moner Manush | Goutam Ghose | Kaluah | Indo-Bangladeshi production |
| 2012 | Television | Mostofa Sarwar Farooki | Sulemon | |
| 2016 | Aynabaji | Amitabh Reza Chowdhury | Ayna | Won — Bangladesh National Film Award for Best actor, Meril Prothom Alo Award for Best Actor |
| 2018 | Debi | Anam Biswas | Misir Ali | Nominated — Meril Prothom Alo Award for Best Actor |
| 2021 | Munshigiri | Amitabh Reza Chowdhury | Masood Munshi | Chorki web film |
| 2022 | Paap Punno | Giasuddin Selim | Khorshed | |
| 2022 | Hawa | Mejbaur Rahman Sumon | Chan Majhi | Won – Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actor |
| 2022 | Dui Diner Duniya | Anam Biswas | Samad | Chorki web film; Nominated – Chorki award for Best Actor |
| 2023 | Mujib: The Making of a Nation | Shyam Benegal | Sheikh Lutfar Rahman | Cameo appearance |
| 2024 | Toofan | Raihan Rafi | AC Akram | Cameo appearance |
| 2024 | Last Defenders of Monogamy | Mostafa Sarwar Farooqi | Shafkat | Chorki web film |
| 2024 | Padatik | Srijit Mukherji | Mrinal Sen | Indian film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Director | Role | Co-Artist | Notes |
| 2000 | Shundori | Mamunur Rashid | Journalist | | First TV appearance |
| 2000 | Grash | Faridur Rahman | | | Television debut |
| 2004 | Shilalipi | Shamim Akter | | | Credited as Suchinta Chanchal |
| 2005 | Tiner Tolowar | Ashutosh Sujon | Muazzem | | |
| 2006 | Talpatar Shepai | Mostofa Sarwar Farooki | Bulbul | Nusrat Imroz Tisha | Bengali Drama |
| 2006 | Bangsher Bati | | | | Bengali Drama |
| 2006 | Goruchor | Salauddin Lavlu | | | Bengali Drama |
| 2006 | Nurunnahar | | | | Bengali Drama |
| 2007 | Swapner Bilat | Salauddin Lavlu | | | Bengali Drama |
| 2007 | Etimkhana | Salauddin Lavlu | | | Bengali Drama |
| 2007 | Vober Hat | Salauddin Lavlu | Fiza Sir | | Bengali Drama serial |
| 2008 | Tuntunni Villa | | | | Bengali Drama serial |
| 2008 | Mama Vagnea | | | | Bengali Drama serial |
| 2008 | Ghor Kutum | Salauddin Lavlu | | A.T.M. Shamsuzzaman | Bengali Drama serial |
| 2008 | Dholer Baddo | Salauddin Lavlu | | Fazlur Rahman Babu | Bengali Drama |
| 2008 | College - Student | | | A.K.M. Hasan | Bengali Drama |
| 2008 | Potro Mitali | Salauddin Lavlu | | | Bengali Drama |
| 2009 | Pattri Chai | | | A.K.M. Hasan, Siddique, Khushi | Bengali Drama |
| 2009 | Warren | Salauddin Lavlu | | Challenger | Bengali Drama |
| 2009 | Alta Sundori | Salauddin Lavlu | | | Bengali Drama serial |
| 2009 | Cinderella | | | | Bengali Drama |
| 2009 | Gadha Nogor | Salauddin Lavlu | | | Bengali Drama |
| 2009 | Sakin Sarisuri | Salauddin Lavlu | Japan Doctor | Masum Aziz, Nazmul Huda Bachchu, Mamunur Rashid, Mosharraf Karim, Azizul Hakim | Bengali Drama serial |
| 2010 | Khela | Mahfuz Ahmed, Humayun Ahmed | | Abul Hayat, Challenger | Bengali Drama |
| 2010 | Harkipte | Salauddin Lavlu | Bohor | Amirul Haque Chowdhury, Mosharraf Karim | Bengali Drama serial |
| 2011 | Lekhok Sri Narayan Chandra Das | Salauddin Lavlu | Narayan | Amirul Haque Chowdhury, Humaira Himu, Milon Bhattacharya, Shireen Alam | Bengali Drama |
| 2012 | Idiots | Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Raz | | Purnima | TV series |
| 2014 | Ujan Ganger Naiya | Giasuddin Selim, Bashar Georgis | Arif | Orchita Sporshia | Bengali Drama |
| 2017 | Vangon | Abu Hayat Mahmud | | Zakia Bari Momo | Bengali Drama |
| 2017 | Ichchey Manush | Sajib Ahmed Chowdhury | Abir Hossain | Fazlur Rahman Babu | Bengali Drama |
| 2018 | Mental Family | Dipu Hazra | | A.K.M Hasan, Shahanaz Khushi, Farhana Mili | Bengali Drama |
| 2018 | Ayesha | Mostofa Sarwar Farooki | Joinal | Nusrat Imroz Tisha | Bengali Drama |
| 2019 | Shohorali | Ejaj Munna | | Moutushi Biswas | TV series |
| 2020 | Rupa Bhabi | Mejbah Uddin Shumon | | Tareen Jahan | Bengali Drama |
| 2020 | Kingkortobbobimur | | | Nusrat Imroz Tisha | Bengali Drama |
| 2021 | Dark Roasted Coffee | Ejaz Munna | | Faria Shahrin, Maimuna Ferdous Momo | Bengali Drama |
| 2023 | Shonda Panda | Salauddin Lavlu | Ronju Master | Shahnaz Khushi, A Kh M Hasan, Anishul Haque Barun | Bengali Drama serial |

### Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | Kalo Daitya | | Arannyak Natyodol Production |
| 1998 | Shangkranti | Laley | Arannyak Natyodol Production |
| 1999 | Prakritojoner Kotha | | Arannyak Natyodol Production |
| 2000 | Ora Kodom Ali | | Arannyak Natyodol Production |
| 2003 | Mayur Singhason | | Arannyak Natyodol Production |
| 2003 | Songkranti | | Arannyak Natyodol Production |
| 2003 | Che'r Cycle | Shubra | Bengali Theatre Production; re-performed in 2020 |
| 2004 | Joyjoyonti | | Arannyak Natyodol Production |
| 2004 | Rarang | | Arannyak Natyodol Production; re-performed in 2022 |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Director | OTT | Note |
| 2019 | Neel Dorja | Mirza | Golam Sohrab Dodul | Bioscope | |
| 2020 | Taqdeer | Taqdeer | Syed Ahmed Shawki | Hoichoi | |
| 2021 | Contract | Black Ronju | Tanim Noor and Krishnendu Chattopadhyay | ZEE5 | |
| 2021 | Unoloukik | Psychologist | Robiul Alam Robi | Chorki | Episode: "Mrs. Prohelika" |
| 2021 | Dark Room | Pablo / Iftekhar Amin | Golam Sohrab Dodul | Cinematic | |
| 2021 | Ladies & Gentlemen | Special Appearance | Mostofa Sarwar Farooki | ZEE5 | |
| 2021 | Boli | Sohrab Company | Shankha Dasgupta | Hoichoi | |
| 2021 | Jaago Bahey | Illyas | Siddiq Ahmed | Chorki | Episode: "Shobder Khwoab" |
| 2022 | Pett Kata Shaw | Mahmud | Nuhash Humayun | Chorki | Episode: "Misti Kichu" |
| 2022 | Karagar | David | Syed Ahmed Shawki | Hoichoi | |
| 2023 | Overtrump | Selim | Bashar Georgis | Chorki | |
| 2024 | Rumi | Rumi | Vicky Zahed | Hoichoi | |
| 2024 | Kalpurush | | Salzar Rahman | | |

## Accolades

As of 2024, Chowdhury is the recipient of multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards for Best Actor and seven Meril Prothom Alo awards: two for Best Actor, four for Best Actor (Critics' Choice) and one for Best Model (Male).
| Year | Awards | Category | Work | Results |
| 2006 | Meril Prothom Alo Awards | Best Model (male) | Maa | Won |
| 2007 | Meril Prothom Alo Awards | Best Actor (Critics' Choice) | Rupkothar Golpo | Won |
| 2009 | National Film Awards | Best Actor | Monpura | Won jointly with Ferdous |
| 2009 | Meril Prothom Alo Awards | Best Actor | Monpura | Won |
| 2010 | Meril Prothom Alo Awards | Best Actor (Critics' Choice) | Moner Manush | Won |
| 2016 | Meril Prothom Alo Awards | Best Actor (Critics' Choice) | Aynabaji | Won |
| 2016 | National Film Awards | Best Actor | Aynabaji | Won |
| 2018 | Meril Prothom Alo Awards | Best Actor (Critics' Choice) | Debi | Won |
| 2021 | Hoichoi Awards | Breakthrough Performance of the Year | Taqdeer and Boli | Won |
| 2021 | Blender's Choice–The Daily Star Awards | Best male actor (popular category) | Taqdeer | Won |
| 2022 | Meril Prothom Alo Awards | Best Actor | Hawa | Won |
| 2022 | Meril Prothom Alo awards | Best Actor (Critics' Choice) | Dui Diner Duniya | Won |
| 2023 | National Film Awards | Best Actor | Hawa | Won |
| 2023 | Kolkata 20th Tele Cine Awards | Best Actor | Hawa | Won |
| 2023 | ABP Ananda Shera Bangali Shommanona | Shera Bangali (Best Bengali) | — | Won |
| 2024 | Suchitra Sen Bengali International Film Festival | Best Actor | Hawa | Won |