Bangladesh is set to welcome its first-ever situational comedy, or sitcom, with Cafe Society, directed by Masud Al Jaber. The director claims it to be the country’s first full-fledged sitcom series, bringing together a cast of several popular actors. Among them is Sohel Mondol, who is taking on a role that’s entirely new for him—and for his audience.
Usually seen in serious, layered characters, Sohel is now stepping into comedy. In a conversation with Bonik Barta, he shared how this new venture is reshaping his creative process and expectations.
A first step into comedy
In Cafe Society, Sohel plays a police officer—a role he prefers to keep under wraps for now. “Let’s wait for the show to begin,” he said with a smile. “Once it’s out, viewers will see what it is. This role is unlike anything I’ve done before.”
While Sohel is best known for intense, dramatic performances, he says the trend was more a result of the scripts that came his way than a deliberate choice. “It’s not that I only seek serious stories,” he explained. “I simply received scripts that leaned that way. I’ve never done a comedy before. Cafe Society gives me that chance. I wanted to explore how I could fit into this genre, and that’s where my motivation came from.”
A new director, a new dynamic
This will be the actor’s first collaboration with director Masud Al Jaber, and though filming hasn’t started yet, his confidence in the project is evident. “I haven’t worked with Masud Al Jaber before,” he said. “Shooting hasn’t begun, so it’s hard to say much now. But I already have faith in his vision.”
Preparing for something different
As he steps into a lighter genre, Sohel Mondol admits the process demands a different kind of preparation. “I’ve just accepted the offer,” he said. “Since this is my first work in comedy, I’m preparing carefully. My main goal is to make the character believable and enjoyable for the audience.”
The future of sitcoms in Bangladesh
Sohel remains cautiously optimistic about the genre’s prospects in Bangladesh. “It’s too early to say how sitcoms will do here,” he said. “There have been a few attempts before, but if stories are well-written and executed properly, there’s real potential. Every new experiment brings opportunities. How the audience accepts it will depend on direction and execution.”
Looking ahead
Beyond Cafe Society, Sohel Mondol has several projects lined up. “Next month, I’ll return to the OTT space after quite some time,” he revealed. “It’s directed by a very capable filmmaker, though I can’t share names just yet. I’m also working on a few TV dramas and preparing for a film release soon.”
Hope for Bangla content
When asked about the current quality of Bangla television and web productions, Sohel kept his comments brief. “I don’t have much to say about overall standards,” he said. “Given the country’s current situation, people are still creating. It’s natural that when there’s a lot of content, only a few will stand out. But good work is being done. Once the broader situation improves, support for strong storytelling will grow too.”
With Cafe Society, Sohel Mondol is stepping out of his comfort zone, signaling a quiet but promising shift in Bangladeshi television. Whether the country’s first sitcom will spark a new wave of comedy storytelling remains to be seen—but for Sohel, the experiment has already begun.