The much-anticipated science fiction film ‘Dhaka 2040’ is officially off the table. Director Dipankar Dipon has confirmed that the project will no longer move forward, ending years of speculation surrounding its fate.
The film, starring Bappi Chowdhury, Nusrat Imrose Tisha and Nusrat Faria, was first announced with much fanfare at its mahurat ceremony held at Dhaka Club on June 20, 2019.
Shooting for the first lot began on June 24 of that year and a poster was later released but production stalled soon after. No further filming has taken place since.
Bappi’s futuristic look and performance drew praise at the time, with the actor calling the project a potential milestone in his career. Now based in New York, he had told this reporter before leaving Bangladesh that he was making new plans to revive the film. However, Dipon has now made it clear that the project is permanently shelved.
Speaking to The TIMES of Bangladesh over the phone on Saturday, the director stated bluntly, “No, that film will not be made.”
When asked why, Dipon explained, “The producer has been unwell for a long time and has lost interest in completing the film. We tried to restart it several times, but he wasn’t willing.”
He further added, “In 2020, Covid created many problems. The producer suffered major business losses at the time, which made him reluctant to reinvest.”
Rumours within the film industry had suggested that the shoot was halted even before the pandemic due to issues such as Bappi’s weak performance or lack of cooperation during rehearsals.
Dipon dismissed these claims, saying, “Bappi worked very hard on this film. He even received acting training in India and came prepared with his own look. He performed very well in the first lot. We had nearly completed half the shoot.”
Inspired by Roland Emmerich’s 2009 Hollywood blockbuster 2012, which explored global disasters and the end of the world, Dhaka 2040 was envisioned as a futuristic tale imagining what the city of Dhaka might look like in the year 2040.
Studio Eight Entertainment took up producing responsibilities for the project.
