Actor, director and writer Hasan Masud says a major religious and personal transformation has changed the way he lives-and his approach to acting.Once a regular face in television dramas and films, Hasan has now largely withdrawn from acting. He said he occasionally accepts advertising projects if he finds them suitable.In a recent interview with a private satellite television channel, Hasan explained why he has stepped back from the entertainment industry.“I have withdrawn myself a little. I no longer act in dramas or films. A major change has taken place within me—I have become somewhat philosophical and religious. So now I only work on advertisements that I like. Other than that, I don’t do anything,” he said.Hasan recently returned home after performing Hajj and spending 41 days in Makkah and Madinah. However, he said the change in his outlook had begun even before his pilgrimage.“The change had started before Hajj. Now you can say that I am a completely changed person,” he said.Sold around 1,200 booksHasan also spoke about his long-standing passion for reading.He said he once read extensively, but eventually became mentally exhausted from reading too much.“I had read so much that, towards the end, I felt like a machine. I had no emotions left inside,” he said.He later sold around 1,200 books from his personal collection at Nilkhet in Dhaka. Since then, he said, he has stopped reading books altogether.From journalism to actingHasan’s career has spanned several fields. He joined the Bangladesh Army in 1985 and retired as a captain in 1992.He then moved into journalism, working for The New Nation and The Daily Star. From 2004 to 2008, he also worked as a correspondent for BBC Bangla.Hasan made his big-screen debut in Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s Bachelor in 2003. He later appeared in films including Made in Bangladesh.He became widely popular through television dramas such as Housefull, Graduate, Taxi Driver, 69, Batasher Ghor and Ronger Duniya.Besides acting, Hasan has also demonstrated his talent in music and recitation.Today, he appears to be placing greater emphasis on religious practice and a quieter life, while keeping his involvement in the entertainment industry to a minimum.