Salman Shah (actor)

Chowdhury Muhammad Shahriar Emon (19 September 1971 – 6 September 1996), known by his stage name Salman Shah, was a Bangladeshi film and television actor and model. Referred in the media as the "Prince of Bangladeshi Cinema", "Hero of Heroes" and the "First Superstar of Modern Dhallywood", he is widely regarded as one of the most popular, influential and iconic figures in Bangladesh's film history. Shah appeared in 27 films in a short acting career of three years, many of which were successful. He first gained attention for his debut film, Keyamat Theke Keyamat (1993), and in the following three years appeared in leading roles in a series of commercially successful films, including Bikkhobh, Denmohor, Shujon Shokhi, Shopner Thikana, Ei Ghor Ei Songsar, Sotter Mrittu Nei and Anondo Osru which established him as one of the most sought after leading men in the industry. Subsequently, he became the highest paid actor in the industry. Three of his films, Shopner Thikana, Sotter Mrittu Nei and Keyamat Theke Keyamat are among the highest grossing films of all time in Dhallywood box office till date. Shah appeared in films from a variety of genres such as family dramas, comedies, social and political dramas, action films, rural dramas, coming of age stories, romance and tragedies. He was known for his versatility and ability to play a wide range of characters as a leading young man with his distinctive style of acting and personality achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success. Considered photogenic, Shah is recognized as a major youth and fashion icon in the Bangladeshi media. Film analysts give Shah the credit for pioneering a new brand of meaningful cinema and introducing the modern era of leading men with his artistry and fashion. Due to his accomplishments and influence in Dhallywood over time, he is regarded as one of the greatest and most successful actors in Bangladeshi film industry. At the height of his fame, Shah was found dead in his apartment in Eskaton, Dhaka on 6 September 1996. His untimely death was noted to be a tragic event for the nation which evoked unanimous public reactions of grief and brought the film industry to a standstill. In 2021, after decades of controversy and speculation surrounding his death, Bangladesh's Police Bureau of investigation officially declared Shah's cause of death as suicide.