Riaz Uddin Ahamed Siddique (Bengali: রিয়াজ উদ্দিন আহমেদ সিদ্দিক, Bengali pronunciation:[ijad͡ʒud̪inamedSiddique.ogg]; born 26 October 1972),[4] commonly known as Riaz, is a Bangladeshi film actor, producer, and television presenter[5] who has appeared in more than 100 Bengali films in genres ranging from romance to action to comedies.[6] He is the recipient of numerous awards, including three National Film Awards[7] and seven Meril Prothom Alo Awards. He portrayed the famous literary character, Shuvro, created by Humayun Ahmed, in Daruchini Dip.
Riaz was born in 1972[4] to an aristocratic Muslim family in Faridpur District, Bangladesh. Riaz is the youngest child in his family. He has six sisters and a brother, Raisuddin Ahamed Siddique. He was brought up in CNB staff quarters of Faridpur for the first sixteen years of his life.[5] His father, the late Zainuddin Ahamed Siddique, was a government service holder. His mother was Arjumand Ara Begum. His paternal home is in Jessore District[citation needed]. His father died in 1988. He studied in St. Joseph Higher Secondary School and Dhaka College.[5]
Military career
[edit]Riaz (center) with his colleagues of the Bangladesh Air Force
Riaz participated in the examinations to be a pilot in the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) right after his HSC results in 1988. He enrolled at the BAF Academy from 1989 to 1991 for flying training and to earn his bachelor's degree under University of Rajshahi in science, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and became a fighter pilot in Bangladesh Air Force in 1991. However, he was dismissed from the air force in 1993, he was promoted till Flying Officer rank.[5]
After withdrawal from the BAF, Riaz moved to Dhaka in 1994. There he met his cousin, actress Bobita, and started his film career in 1995. Riaz was in Dewan Nazrul's commercially successful 1995 film Banglar Nayok,[10] although the movie did not bring him personal popularity.[11] In 1997, Mohammad Hannan's romantic film Praner Cheye Priyo was an extraordinary commercial success, and Riaz became popular soon after.[11] He works with many renowned filmmakers in Bangladesh, and has acted in numerous films that have been commercially successful.[12] He was also in filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar's film It Was Raining That Night and has acted in the English language.[13] In this film, he acted with Sushmita Sen for the first time.[14] Now he has become a popular heartthrob to millions of people in the country.[5]
He has acted in some literary adaptations, and in his career he has portrayed many consecutive roles to wide critical acclaim in films such as Dui Duari (2000), Shasti: Punishment, Megher Pore Megh: Clouds After Cloud and Shyamol Chhaya: The Green Shadow (2004), Hajar Bachhor Dhore: Symphony of Agony (2005), Bidrohi Padma and Khelaghar: Dollhouse (2006), Daruchini Dip and Ekjon Songe Chhilo (2007), Megher Koley Rod: Sunshine in the Clouds, Ki Jadu Korila and Chandra Grohon: The Lunar Eclipse (2008), Ebadat: The Worship (2009) and Modhumoti (2011). Riaz also acted in Ogni Bolaka a drama that is based on Birshreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman's life.[15]
^Nusrat Jahan Pritom (12 June 2014). "The Charming Riaz". The Daily Sun. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
^Alauddin Majid (3 November 2010). আর অভিনয় নয় : রিয়াজ. Daily Bangladesh Protidin (in Bengali). Dhaka. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh Air Force
Flying officer
