Two action thrillers, ‘Prince: Once upon a time in Dhaka’, starring Shakib Khan, and ‘Rakkhosh’, fronted by Siam Ahmed, are emerging as major talking points ahead of this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr releases. With both films rooted in high-octane action and darker storytelling, they have drawn particular attention amid a crowded festive slate.
Directed by Abu Hayat Mahmud, Prince began filming on January 6 at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (FDC) in Dhaka. Meanwhile, Rakkhosh, helmed by ‘Borbaad’ director Mehedi Hasan Hridoy, commenced production in December, also at FDC.
After completing an initial schedule in Dhaka, the Rakkhosh team travelled to Sri Lanka with a 28-member unit, filming for 18 consecutive days across various locations before returning to Bangladesh to wrap key scenes. The production has since moved to India to shoot two major songs. Sources indicate that one track has already been filmed in Kashmir.
The Prince team followed a similar trajectory. Due to initial visa complications for India, the production first headed to Sri Lanka to film crucial portions. Once the issues were resolved, the unit shifted to Kolkata to continue shooting.
Reports suggest that a romantic number was also filmed in Kashmir, while an item song was shot in Mumbai under the choreography of Adil Sheikh. Industry sources claim that Rakkhosh may also feature an item number choreographed by the same team, although this has not been officially confirmed.
There had been speculation that Prince was inspired by the life of a notorious 1990s Dhaka underworld figure. However, producer Abu Hayat has dismissed those claims, clarifying that while the film is set against the backdrop of 1990s Dhaka, it is not a biographical account.
Alongside Shakib Khan, the cast includes Jyotirmoyee Kundu, Tasnia Farin, Nasir Uddin Khan, Rashed Mamun Apu, Intekhab Dinar, Dr Ejaz and Sharif Siraj.
Rakkhosh, described by its makers as a gritty tale set in a shadowy underworld, pairs Siam Ahmed opposite Kolkata-based actress Susmita Chatterjee. The full cast has yet to be revealed, with the director hinting at further surprises.
Both films are currently in the final stages of production, with their teams confident of meeting the Eid release window.
