Apurba humbled by being called ‘Uttam Kumar of Bangladesh’
Ziaul Faruq Apurba has responded with great respect and humility after Jhimli Banerjee, niece of legendary actor Uttam Kumar and daughter of veteran actor Tarun Kumar, referred to him as the “Uttam Kumar of Bangladesh”.
Jhimli made the remark in a Facebook comment on one of Apurba’s posts.
“You will go a long way. May God bless you. You are the Uttam Kumar of Bangladesh,” she wrote.
The comparison left Apurba both delighted and deeply humbled. In a Facebook post, the actor said receiving such recognition from Uttam Kumar’s family was an “incredible joy”, while admitting that he felt somewhat uncomfortable being compared with a legend of such stature.
“Receiving such a comment from the family of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar is an incredible joy for me, but at the same time, it also makes me feel extremely humbled,” Apurba wrote.
Calling Uttam Kumar a “guiding star” of art and culture, Apurba said that hearing his name mentioned alongside the legendary actor would naturally make any artist feel overwhelmed.
“Mahanayak Uttam Kumar is a guiding star of our art and culture. But honestly, hearing myself compared with a legend of such immense stature would make any artist’s heart tremble. That is exactly how I feel,” he wrote.
Apurba also acknowledged the special place Uttam Kumar continues to hold among Bangladeshi audiences.
“I know how much the audiences of our country love Mahanayak and how high a place he holds in their hearts. Forgive me, but I am simply not accustomed to seeing myself that way. And I will never have the audacity to do so. I am a very small artist,” he added.
Despite his reluctance to embrace the comparison, Apurba expressed his gratitude to Uttam Kumar’s family for their appreciation.
“However, I am deeply grateful for the assessment his family has made of me. I take this love as a great achievement and a source of inspiration for my work,” he wrote.
The actor also thanked his fans for their continued support, describing their love as his strength.
“Your love is my strength. Please forgive the mistakes and shortcomings in my work and pray for me, so that I can always remain true to the trust you place in me,” Apurba wrote.
Uttam Kumar, widely regarded as the Mahanayak of Bengali cinema, continues to be one of the most celebrated figures in Bengali popular culture. His legacy and enduring screen appeal have influenced generations of actors and audiences across Bangladesh and West Bengal.
For Apurba, however, being compared with the iconic actor is less a title to claim than an honour he approaches with humility.
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