Yash Rohan is making headlines in more ways than one these days. With the release of his Hoichoi web series “Headline” and his strikingly unrecognisable appearance in the trailer for "ANNiE," the actor seems determined to keep audiences guessing. Whether through unconventional characters or intriguing storylines, Yash is making it clear that he is not afraid to take risks—and that he is here to stay.
The actor recently dropped by The Daily Star office over coffee and biscuits, where he opened up about his latest projects, his much-loved on-screen bromance with Apurbo, and the comparisons that continue to follow him online.
Fans have been particularly charmed by his portrayal of Samiul Alam, an ambitious young reporter in Saleh Sobhan Auneem’s “Headline”. However, stepping into the shoes of a journalist was not entirely unfamiliar territory for Yash.
“I fell sick just a few days before shooting for 'Headline,' but the actor in me pushed through because I really wanted to do justice to the role,” he said. “Samiul is a young reporter who dreams of becoming famous. Interestingly, I didn’t have to do much research about journalism because my father, Naresh Bhuiyan, was a journalist. Growing up, I witnessed the realities, struggles and lifestyle of journalists firsthand, which helped me connect with the character.”
When the first poster of “Headline” was unveiled, social media users were quick to draw comparisons between Yash and Indian actor Rohit Saraf. The actor, however, finds the whole thing amusing.
“People have compared me to several actors over the years, especially one particular actor whose name I’d rather not mention,” he said with a laugh. “I even tried to find the resemblance myself, but I couldn’t. And when it comes to Rohit Saraf, I genuinely don’t see any similarity. It’s quite funny, actually.”
Asked about the similarities between himself and Samiul, Yash did not need much time to think.
“Both of us struggle with saying the right thing at the right time,” he said, bursting into laughter. “And because of that, we often end up creating unnecessary problems for ourselves.”
Another aspect of “Headline” that has caught viewers’ attention is the chemistry between Yash and fellow actor Apurbo.
Reflecting on their bond, Yash said, “After working together in ‘Buker Moddhye Agun’, we reunited for this project, and it felt like our chemistry naturally carried over. There’s a boro bhai-choto bhai dynamic between us that audiences seem to be enjoying, and honestly, I love it too.”
He added, “I have immense respect for all senior artistes, but I share a special bond with Apurbo bhai. Whenever we work together, we instantly connect. That comfort and understanding make our scenes flow effortlessly.”
When the trailer for “ANNiE” was released last month, fans had a hard time recognising Yash. Shedding his signature chocolate-boy image for the film, the actor appears in a rugged, bearded avatar that is almost unrecognisable. Interestingly, Yash had predicted exactly that. During an earlier press conference for “ANNiE”, he had warned that audiences would struggle to recognise him in the film. When the trailer was finally released, that was precisely what happened.
“Pavel is a very layered character with a lot of complexities, and his physicality needed to reflect that. He had to appear rough and messy,” Yash said. “To play this character, I couldn’t take on any work for four months, which was a huge sacrifice for me because I regularly do TV projects. We had very little time to prepare for the character, but all of us artistes involved in the project gave it our best.”
He continued, “When I was roped in to play this character, I knew I had to do justice to the role. Pavel is quite an ambiguous character, which is quite common in Abdullah Mohammad Saad’s work. I’m really glad to have had the opportunity to experiment with such a unique character in this film.”
As he continues to explore new characters and challenge audience expectations, Yash Rohan seems focused on one thing—growing with every role he takes on.
