Acclaimed Kolkata actress Sreelekha Mitra will not be able to join the shooting of Bangladeshi director Rashed Polash’s new film ‘Tori’, owing to visa complications.
The film, which began production last year, revolves around the lives of three women. Sreelekha was cast in a pivotal role, but her arrival in Dhaka has been stalled for months.
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh on Friday, director Rashed Polash said, “Sreelekha was supposed to come here more than four months ago to shoot. However, because of visa complications and political issues, we couldn’t proceed. We are hopeful that as soon as the situation improves, we can start shooting again.”
He revealed that the shooting with Sreelekha was planned at Tejgaon in the capital. The production team had even initiated the process of seeking permission from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
“Despite all preparations, we did not get a green signal from inside the ministry, so we didn’t proceed with the application,” Palash added.
From her Kolkata residence, Sreelekha told TIMES over WhatsApp on Friday, “I was supposed to go to Dhaka last February, but I am still waiting for the visa process to start.”
In Tori, she is set to play the role of a film extra artist, though the actress refrained from disclosing further details without the director’s consent.
This would not have been her first experience in Dhaka cinema. She previously appeared in ‘Singho Purush’ and ‘Hothat Brishti’. Her last visit to the city was in January 2023, when her self-produced and directed short film ‘Ebong Chhad’ was screened at the 21st Dhaka International Film Festival.
This year, Sreelekha was seen in the film ‘Mayanagar’, which received high praise from audiences. She has also directed two short films: ‘Better Half’ and ‘Ebong Chhad’, though she remains more widely recognised in both India and Bangladesh as an actress, rather than a filmmaker.
Expressing her interest in Dhaka’s OTT sphere, the actress-director said, “I’ve seen several productions on Dhaka’s OTT platforms; they are doing really well. I would love to work for an OTT platform in Dhaka if I ever get the opportunity.”
Sreelekha is currently awaiting the release of Sudhir Mishra’s Hindi web series ‘Summer of ’77 – Children of Freedom’. She also has an upcoming guest appearance and an item number in a Kolkata film, both slated for release soon.
