Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan on Wednesday marked 26 years in the Bangladeshi film industry, continuing his reign as the country’s most bankable and popular actor for over a decade.

The Dhallywood megastar made his silver screen debut on May 28, 1999, with the romantic film ‘Anonto Bhalobasha’. Shakib considers the film’s release date as the official beginning of his acting career.

A post from Shakib's official Facebook page on Wednesday commemorated the milestone, stating, “On May 28, 1999, a new star rose in Bangladesh’s film industry with the release of ‘Anonto Bhalobasha’. Through his talent, perseverance, hard work and skill, he started ruling the industry within just six years.”

The post further read, “Today, his position at the top of Bangla cinema is evident to all Bangla-speaking audiences across the world. The shining star of fame completes 26 years of his royal journey.”

Earlier this year, during a press conference for ‘Borbaad’—one of the most successful films of Dhallywood, released during this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr—Shakib reflected on his journey, saying, “My dream in cinema is still unfulfilled. Cinema is my passion and my profession, and this feeling is beyond words.”

Shakib Khan’s ‘Borbaad’ dominates Eid box office; 'Antoratta' fizzles out

“I was in my first year of college when I started acting. What was meant to be a three-month experience has turned into 25 years,” the actor recalled, reflecting on his illustrious career.

Shakib has long spoken about his dream of taking Bangladeshi cinema to global stages alongside Hollywood and Bollywood. Over the years, he has become a cornerstone of the local film industry, with many theatre owners relying heavily on his films for box office returns.

“My dream is becoming reality,” Shakib said in recent interviews, adding, “The demand for our films has been rising in the international arena in recent years, which brings me immense joy.”

Recently, Shakib congratulated Adnan Al Rajeev, producer of the award-winning Bangladeshi short film ‘Ali’, on his official Facebook page after the film received recognition at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival this year.

Following back-to-back successes with ‘Priyotoma’, ‘Rajkumar’, ‘Dorod’, ‘Toofan’, and ‘Borbaad’, the Dhallywood megastar is set to return to theatres this upcoming Eid-ul-Azha with ‘Tandob’, directed by Raihan Rafi. The announcement has sparked high anticipation among his fans, widely known as the ‘Shakibians’.

Shakib Khan's 'Taandob' announced for Eid-ul-Adha 2025

As Shakib enters his 27th year in the industry, his enduring popularity and vision for Bangladeshi cinema continue to inspire both fans and fellow artists alike.