Popular Bangladeshi actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba is set to appear before audiences in a different artistic role as he takes the stage for his first major solo musical performance in New York today, 8 August.

The actor-singer will perform at the Jamaica Performing Arts Centre in New York at a concert titled Apurba Live Musical Night, organised by Dreambox Entertainment. The nearly two-hour programme will feature 10 songs, combining popular numbers by some of his favourite singers with songs he has performed in his own voice for television dramas.

Although Apurba is widely recognised for his work in television dramas and other acting projects, music has been a long-standing part of his creative life. He has been singing for many years, particularly in informal settings such as gatherings with friends and private events. His singing has also featured in several television dramas in which he has acted, allowing audiences to hear a side of his artistic personality beyond his on-screen performances.

The New York concert, however, marks a significant step in bringing that interest in music to a larger public stage. Rather than presenting himself solely as an actor who occasionally sings, Apurba will have an opportunity to showcase his musical preferences and vocal performances as the central focus of an evening.

Ahead of the concert, the actor has received messages of support from several prominent Bangladeshi singers. Musician Kumar Bishwajit offered his best wishes, describing Apurba as someone he deeply likes and respects. He expressed hope that Apurba would win audiences’ hearts through music just as he has done through acting. Bishwajit also stressed the value of supporting artists who carry Bangla music and cultural identity beyond Bangladesh.

Singer Fahmida Nabi has also extended her good wishes. She said she enjoys both Apurba’s acting and singing and expressed her desire to attend the programme had she been in New York. She also said she was pleased to see the actor taking his musical interest to a larger platform.

Speaking about his preparations from the United States, Apurba told The Daily Star in a telephone interview that he had spoken by phone with several singers he admires before the concert. Their affection, encouragement and good wishes, he said, had strengthened his confidence and enthusiasm ahead of the performance.

For Apurba, singing has never been merely an occasional extension of his acting career. His interest in music has accompanied him for years, often finding expression away from the spotlight. The New York event now gives him a rare chance to bring that private passion into a professional concert setting.

The programme is therefore expected to offer audiences a broader picture of the actor’s artistic identity. His interpretations of songs by favourite artists, alongside numbers previously sung by him for television dramas, will give the evening a distinctly personal character.

For Bangladeshi expatriates in New York, the concert also represents an opportunity to experience a familiar television star in an unfamiliar setting. For Apurba himself, it is a chance to step beyond the identity that made him widely known and publicly celebrate a musical passion he has nurtured for years.