Filmmaker Shihab Shaheen is set to venture into the thriller genre with a new Chorki original web series, currently titled ‘Cactus’, starring Mehazabien Chowdhury and Pritom Hasan in the lead roles. The title may change later.
Blending dramedy, thriller and action elements, the series is written entirely by Shaheen, who has crafted the story, screenplay and dialogues.
Speaking to the media, the director said the project explores the journey of an ordinary young man who gradually becomes a spy, marking a shift from his well-known romantic works.
Shaheen described the series as part of his long-term plan to build a locally rooted spy universe. “We cannot make James Bond, and this is not Masud Rana either. We are creating a spy universe in our own way. This kind of work has not been done much in Bangladesh,” he said.
The story centres on a young hacker named Mansib, played by Pritom Hasan, who previously worked with Shaheen in ‘Kacher Manush Dure Thuiya’. The director said audiences will see the actor in a different light this time.
Mehazabien Chowdhury stars opposite Pritom, though details of her character remain under wraps. Shaheen said he cast her purely for her acting ability, calling her one of the finest performers in the country.
The actress said she was excited to join the project, adding that the story felt strong and the role promising.
Production on the series has already begun, with around 80 percent of the shoot planned to be completed before the elections and the remainder afterwards. The series is scheduled for release later this year.
The ensemble cast also includes Manas Banerjee, Salahuddin Lavlu, Shahadat Hossain, Naziba Bashar, Sanjida Tasnim and Zahidul Apu.
