Ilias Kanchan

Idris Ali (born 24 December 1956), known by his stage name Ilias Kanchan, is a Bangladeshi actor and activist. He appeared in more than 300 films. He earned the Bangladesh National Film Award for Lifetime Achievement (2021), the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the film Parineeta (1986), and Best Supporting Actor for Shasti (2005). He is a road safety activist in Bangladesh. He was awarded Ekushey Padak for his social service by the government of Bangladesh in 2018. He was the former president of the Bangladesh Film Artists' Association, the organisation of local film artists.

Debuting with the 1977 film Bosundhora, he was unsuccessful in finding himself a lead actor and had to star as a supporting character in films. He eventually rose to prominence and established himself as one of the top stars of the film industry in mid 1980s with films.

In the 1990s, he became a box office sensation as he starred in the highest-grossing film in Bangladesh till 2023. With this film he proved his worth as one of the top stars and continued to be successful with films.

After 2000, he has mostly reduced his work in films. Nonetheless, his films continue to be successful, and he has retained his status as a lead actor with films. In the meantime, he has successfully established his road activists organization, Nirapad Sarak Chai, which he started in 1993, into a massive cause. His other humanitarian work includes giving free driving lessons to needy people, and setting up schools in his neighourhood.