From working as a stunt double for Arifin Shuvoo in a scene from “Shapludu” to winning hearts as the sniper in “Cactus”, Arefin Zilani has come a long way. His journey has been marked by challenges and setbacks, but his dedication to acting has paid off. Today, he has carved a space for himself across both films and OTT platforms.

In a candid conversation with The Daily Star, Zilani spoke about his struggles, turning points in his career, and more.

Interestingly, he performed all the stunts in “Cactus” himself. Trained in Muay Thai, he said it was difficult to find a suitable double due to his height. “As I’m trained in Muay Thai, my punches, hooks, and jabs naturally look more convincing. The stunt doubles available were around five-seven or five-eight—it would have been obvious on screen. So, I did the stunts myself to maintain believability,” he said.

Filming the final action sequence, however, proved particularly challenging. While shooting in Sreemangal, Zilani fell ill with a bacterial infection but continued working through it. “I performed the entire action sequence with a high fever—running along railway tracks, jumping from heights, climbing, shooting—doing everything. I was physically very weak, and on top of that, it was extremely hot. Wearing a leather jacket, a turtleneck, and a sweater under intense sunlight made it even more difficult. But somehow, I managed. Interestingly, whenever the camera rolled, I didn’t feel the fever. But the moment they said ‘cut,’ it would hit me again,” he said.

He also recalled performing a physically demanding rope-climbing sequence. “It was my first time doing something like that. I was scared, but I stayed focused on the performance,” he added.

Before acting, Zilani worked as an RJ and later trained at Prachyanat Theatre School. His early days were not without difficulty. Recalling his experience on “Shapludu”, he said he was initially unaware he would be performing a stunt. “I was told to replace Shuvoo bhai in a scene because of our similar height. Later, I found out I had to jump from a tree into a pond. I wish they had told me from the beginning that I would be playing his stunt double—I would have happily done it. Instead, they chose to hide it, which really hurt me,” he said.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, a prolonged period without work led him to take up a job in a pharmaceutical company under family pressure. However, when he was denied leave for a project, he faced a difficult decision. With encouragement from his wife, Oyshee Fatima Tuz Zahra, he chose to return to acting.
Due to stress, his weight rose to 118 kg during that time. After leaving the job, he reduced it to 89 kg within a few months. By mid-2023, he returned with a central role in the Deepto TV drama “Sheulimala”.

Zilani believes that honesty in performance matters more than the size of a role. He pointed to “Cactus”, where he had no dialogue in the first five episodes, yet still connected with viewers.

On the work front, he was recently seen in Tanim Noor’s “Utshob” and “Bonolota Express”. Speaking about the director, he said, “I’m a newcomer and haven’t worked with many people yet, but Tanim Noor bhai and his team are very organised and clear about what they want.”

He also noted that being cast in a comedic role in “Bonolota Express” marked a shift from how he is usually perceived. “Because of my appearance, I’m often seen in action-oriented roles. But as an actor, it’s my job to adapt. Playing Faisal, who is naive and often clueless, was a different experience,” he said.

Among his upcoming projects is the web film “Kalo Biral”, where he plays the lead in a biographical role based on a Dhaka University vice-chancellor. Without any family background in the industry, Zilani said he has earned each role through auditions, with his wife remaining his biggest supporter.