Eminent actor-director Abul Hayat, who played the lead role of Humayun Ahmed’s first TV play, told New Age that the trendsetter playwright initially used to create lead characters keeping Hayat on mind.
 From Humayun Ahmed’s first TV play Protham Prahor, Hayat continued to act lead roles for over a decade in Ahmed’s plays. In an interview with New Age, Abul Hayat disclosed some unknown stories on Humayun Ahmed.
 ‘I played the lead role of Humayun’s first TV play Protham Prahor. In the first experience, I was fascinated by his script and crafting of characters. The play was aired on BTV in around 1983-84 and that was the beginning of a new trend in the TV drama.’
‘Since then a good understanding and bondage developed between us, and he liked me so much that for a long time he used to write the lead characters keeping me on mind.’
Abul Hayat worked in a remarkable number of Ahmed’s productions including single-episode plays Eka Eka, Khelna, Achin Brikkha; drama serials Eisab Dinratri, Bahubrihi, Aj Rabibar, Nakkhatrer Raat and films Aguner Parashmoni and Shankhanil Karagar.
‘The popularity of Humayun’s plays was phenomenal in the BTV era, when no other channel was there. The streets became empty and the store had been shut down during the time of the telecast of his plays. Even now, when there are many other options, Humayun’s play has its own distinguished place,’ Abul Hayat said.
Abul Hayat’s performance in Ahmed’s popular TV serial Ayomoy took him to a different level of popularity. ‘I consider myself privileged that I performed the lead character of Ayomoy named Kashem, which is one of my most favourite characters in my acting career. The diversity of the character was simply fascinating and for a long time people used to call me by the name of the role Kashem,’ Hayat told New Age   
He directed two serials Jyotsnar Phul and Rangdhanu written by Ahmed.
‘I last met him a few years ago. But, I will always regret for not being able to meet him while he was visiting Dhaka in last May during a break of his treatment,’ Hayat said.