A dispute has emerged between filmmaker Raisul Islam Anik and production house Sadamata Entertainment over the films ‘Charulata’ and ‘Dhaka-1205’, with the company accusing the director of breaching contract terms and financial irregularities.
The controversy surfaced after Anik recently claimed at a press conference that Charulata would be released under the new title Dhaka-1205. In response, Sadamata Entertainment rejected the statement and insisted the two projects are separate films.
Charulata, starring Ashna Habib Bhabna and Rakib Hossain Evan, began production in 2024. Sadamata Entertainment later acquired the rights to the project. The company recently announced that work on Charulata had stalled due to various complications and that it had instead started a new project titled Dhaka-1205, directed by Walid Ahmed.
Executive producer Imdadul Islam Jikran alleged that despite receiving payment under the agreement, Anik did not hand over the completed work. He also claimed there were unresolved financial issues linked to the project.
He said, “The director himself later informed us that he could no longer complete the project. He also admitted responsibility in a letter sent to the Directors’ Association. Now he is saying Charulata is Dhaka-1205. That is completely false. These are two separate films.”
The production company further stated that Dhaka-1205 had been registered independently with the Directors’ Association. It also alleged that although payments had been made to the lead actors, the full remuneration had not been settled.
Anik denied the allegations, maintaining that filming for Charulata had already been completed and submitted, with only some dubbing work remaining.
“There are some financial complications, but discussions are ongoing regularly. The issues will be resolved soon,” he said.
The filmmaker acknowledged that actor Evan still has outstanding payments due, but denied claims that actress Ashna Habib Bhabna had not received her remuneration.
