Actor Sariful Razz has said he is willing to meet the producer’s demands over the film ‘Thikana’, whether that means paying money or providing shooting dates, as a dispute over the project continues.
Producer Shahreen Akter recently sent Razz a legal notice giving him 48 hours to respond to allegations of breaching contractual terms, violating an exclusivity agreement and causing financial losses.
The actor has now spoken publicly to news media about the notice, saying he remains unclear about what the production team actually wants from him.
Razz said the producer’s demands appeared to shift between seeking financial compensation and asking him to provide dates for the film. He insisted that he was prepared to fulfil either request.
“They first talk about money, saying I am not paying. Then they bring up the issue of dates. What do they actually want? If they want money, they can take it. If they want dates, I will certainly provide them. I came into this profession to make films. Nobody can say that I have ever taken money and failed to provide shooting dates. I will always continue making films,” he said.
The actor also rejected the suggestion that his involvement in another film violated the agreement. According to Razz, the contract did not prevent him from working on other projects. He further claimed that the producer’s legal notice itself referred to a post-Eid release for ‘Thikana’.
“The film will be released during Eid. It is not that I cannot work on another film. If they want to release it during Eid, that is fine. But the contract does not say I cannot work on any other project. Their film is not necessarily coming out during Eid either. The notice itself mentions a release after Eid. We could have worked according to that schedule. I am surprised that a professional scheduling issue has led to such allegations and a legal notice,” he said.
Razz also referred to Clause 4.11 of the agreement and the second section of the legal notice, saying both address the film’s release and shooting schedule but do not specify an exact release date.
He has decided to respond through legal channels and said he could raise further questions about the interpretation of the contract.
“My responsibility is to provide dates and complete the shooting. I am not making just one film a year. Anyway, I now intend to address the matter legally. I respect the producer and director, and I hope they will understand my position. I would rather concentrate on my work than remain occupied with these issues,” he said.
The dispute has cast uncertainty over the production and release plans for ‘Thikana’, directed by Zubayer Ibna Bakar. The next developments will depend on Razz’s response to the legal notice and any subsequent action by either party.
