Anant accused of cheating

Popular actor and producer of Dhakai cinema Anant Jalil organized a ‘talent hunt’ a few years ago. Its aim was to bring new faces to cinema and eliminate the artist crisis. In Anant’s words, he wanted to find young talents from all over the country and develop a new generation of actors and actresses in cinema.
This program received a huge response across the country. About three lakh contestants participated in it. Out of them, young model Sabbir Ahmed Arbin was finally selected. Then it was announced that the winners would get a chance to act in Anant Jalil’s next film. At that time, this talent hunt was organized for a film called ‘The Spy: Agrajatrar Mahanayak’.
But time passed, and the work on the film did not start. Later, Anant Jalil announced that he would give some of the talented young men and women selected in the competition a chance to act in his next film ‘Din: The Day’. In 2018, Anant himself confirmed the matter to the media. After that announcement, Sabbir Ahmed Arbin finally got a call for a movie after a long wait.
Narrating the incident, Arbin said, ‘In 2015, there was a reality show called “Talent Hunt”. I was finalised in the hero category. A deal was made with Anant Bhai, I would work in his movie. That movie (“The Spy”) did not happen. Later, I was called for “Din: The Day” and was selected as a police officer.’
‘I used to sit in costume all day during the shooting, but we did not have any scenes. After four days, a scene was shot, and then some more shots were taken. We shot for a total of eight days. Later, when the movie released, I went to watch it with my family and friends. But I could not find myself anywhere on screen. I was very embarrassed in front of everyone. All my hard work went in vain – I was cheated,’ Arbin said.
‘This experience has given me a lot of mental pain. As an artist, it is an insult. I had a dream of seeing myself acting on the big screen, but that dream has been shattered.’ Anant Jalil was contacted several times to inquire about this allegation, but he did not respond.
It is worth noting that the film ‘Din: The Day’, a joint production of Bangladesh and Iran, was directed by Iranian director Morteza Atash Zamzam. Apart from Anant Jalil and Barsha, several actors from Iran and Lebanon acted in it.