Going great guns

Rahsaan Islam is a Bangladeshi-American actor who made his debut in an internationally acclaimed Bengali film titled Simanaheen.

The film put Rahsaan on the entertainment map, as the movie became not only a commercial success but also won accolades for new-age Bengali cinema’s representation on a global stage. Soon after, this multi-talented personality made his directorial debut with a film titled Kings of Devon which was a project Rahsaan took up for charity. He also starred in the movie.

The year 2015 will mark his debut in India as he gears up for the release of Indo-American film called The Spectacular Jihad of Taz Rahim opposite Indie music queen Monica Dogra.

Rahsaan essays the character of Taz Rahim in New York, who, soon after the controversial 9/11 attack, becomes a police informer and the story unravels from there. After SJOTR, Rahsaan will play a lead in an all new Indo-American film to be shot in France called Cyclewala which is being produced by ace producer Donna Roth of 13 Going On 30 and America’s Sweetheart fame.

Coming to your new film The Spectacular Jihad of Taz Rahim, you play a rapper who is forced to become an undercover agent. What kind of groundwork did you do for your role?

Is it true that your role as a rapper is a desi imitation of singer Yo Yo Singh?

Very much so. We all know Yo! Yo! and we all know people who want to be like him. I took that energy and fused it with what I learned from my interviews with one of the individuals whom was an actual NYPD informant in this programme.

Your co-star was singer Monica Dogra. Was she able to give you pointers?

Monica is easy to be around behind the camera and extremely professional in front of it. I’m so fortunate to be able to collaborate with her. I think the greatest thing she did for me was to challenge me as an actor and I I stepped up to that challenge.