Self-belief and determination have led a Blackburn man along a rare career path. Actor Jaleel Akhtar talks to PAULINE HAWKINS about his journey so far.

HE'S good-looking, intelligent, articulate, single . . . and he'll be in Darwen on St Valentine's Day. But girls, before you rush out and empty the shelves of heart-shaped cards, Jaleel Akhtar is too busy concentrating on his acting career to worry about romance.

He describes himself as a "struggling" actor but probably his biggest struggle was to win acceptance from his family for his chosen career.

Jaleel, 22, said: "Acting has always been regarded as a degrading job in the Asian community. I had a lot of pressure from the family and the community because I wanted to be an actor.

"In a way, you fight harder to achieve it because you want to prove them wrong and that gave me the extra strength and push to fight harder. I want to be an example to young people that you can make it and achieve your dreams. Nothing is difficult, nothing is impossible -- all you need is desire and determination and you can be anything you want to be. Believe in yourself."

Jaleel is a former pupil of St Stephen's Primary and Junior School and Beardwood High School in Blackburn. He became interested in acting when he was 14 and joined the Ada (talent) and Roshnaai (light) youth theatre group based in the Bangor Street Community Centre in Blackburn.

On leaving school he went to Blackburn College and took a course in media studies, still determined to pursue a career in acting, and continued working with the youth theatre group. Two years ago his big break arrived.

"I did a lot of shows in the community.

"One day representatives from Proper Job Theatre Projects came along looking for unemployed people and I auditioned and got the job.

"I was in a production called Township and went to Belgium, Denmark and Germany," Jaleel said.

"My family are proud of me now. Since I got my first professional job they think 'good on him.'

"My father is a builder in Blackburn and he wanted me to join the business. I have two brothers and two sisters and they are all doing different things.

"Acting is my passion, my life. I have always wanted to be on the stage. Maybe one day, when I am older and have enough experience, I would like to try my hand at directing. At the moment, I still have a lot to achieve."

Young people from the youth theatre group that Jaleel was a member of will be among the audience when he stars in The Beautiful Violin (Bhelua Shundori) at Darwen Library Theatre on Thursday and Friday at 7.30pm.

The play is a tragic love story from the rivers and jungles of East Bengal and its impact can be compared to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. All life is contained in the production -- growing up, love, death, spirituality, war and wisdom, freedom and foolishness. For the first time in the UK the story is presented as a "jathra", the fast-moving musical dance-drama of Bengal which used to take place on a wooden platform in village squares lit by lanterns and torches.

The play is being presented by Peshkar Productions, the North West's only British South Asian theatre and production company, in association with Oldham Coliseum. It has been especially commissioned as the first major touring production by Peshkar, whose name is derived from the Urdu word meaning "to present".

Choreographer for the production is Shobna Gulati, probably best known as Sunita in Coronation Street. Shobna, whose credits also include Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies and EastEnders, is a founder member of Peshkar, which was formed in Oldham in 1991 and is committed to providing opportunities for South Asian artists in Oldham and beyond.

Jaleel, who takes several roles in the play, and his fellow actors Ross Millar and Everal Walsh believe the play will appeal to all cultures and say that it is not aimed solely at the Asian community.

"There is something in it for everybody," Everal said.

Jaleel, who has appeared on Mersey Beat on BBC-1 and has completed filming for Kismet Road, a new 14-episode BBC drama series on topics affecting Asian people, says he has no ambitions to be a Bollywood actor.

"I want to conquer the local area first," he said.

Tickets for The Beautiful Violin are £6.50 and £4.50 and are available by telephoning Darwen Library Theatre box office on 01254 706006. The play will also be staged at the Square Chapel in Halifax on Saturday at 7pm and at the Coliseum Theatre, Oldham, on Monday, February 25, at 7.30pm.