Uncertainty surrounding the teaser of the Shakib Khan-starrer upcoming Eid film ‘Prince: Once Upon a Time in Dhaka’ has finally come to an end with its official release. The film’s promotional activities had appeared stalled in recent weeks, prompting speculation about whether the movie would be able to make its scheduled Eid debut. The teaser’s release has now cleared the air.
Earlier, the makers had announced that the teaser would be unveiled at 12 noon on Thursday. However, it eventually appeared around 1 pm on the YouTube channel of the production house SK Films.
The 1 minute 29 second teaser, which director Abu Hayat Mahmud describes as a “pre-blast,” introduces Shakib Khan in a fierce gangster avatar. The video opens with glimpses of the criminal underworld of Dhaka before the central character “Prince,” played by Shakib Khan, enters the scene.
Sporting long hair and sunglasses, the Dhallywood superstar appears in full action mode, taking down rivals and members of law enforcement with a barrage of gunfire. The teaser suggests a gritty narrative rooted in crime and power struggles within the city’s underworld.
Interestingly, the teaser also reveals another look of Shakib Khan with comparatively shorter hair and a different appearance. Whether this represents an earlier phase of the character or hints at a dual role remains unclear.
The teaser also features glimpses of acclaimed Indian actor Divyendu Bhattacharya. Additionally, Shakib Khan’s two co-stars, Tasnia Farin and Jyotirmoyee Kundu, appear briefly.
Towards the end of the teaser, Prince delivers a striking dialogue: “Those who deal with me will be rewarded with sweets. But those who deal with my enemies will face a rain of bullets.”
Earlier reports suggested that Prince was inspired by the life of a notorious gangster from Dhaka’s underworld during the 1990s. Director Abu Hayat Mahmud, however, dismissed that speculation.
“Prince is not the biopic of any particular individual. It is entirely a big-budget commercial film,” he said.
The cast also includes Rashed Mamun Apu, Intekhab Dinar, Dr. Ejaz and Sharif Siraj, among others.
The film has been shot across multiple locations, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India, and is slated for release during the upcoming Eid festival.
