“India shoots cancelled—are Bangladeshi filmmakers eyeing Sri Lanka?”

Several Bangladeshi films, initially slated for shooting in India this month, have now been relocated to Sri Lanka, as announced by their respective directors. The decision comes in the wake of a series of logistical and administrative challenges that made filming in India increasingly complicated.

According to recent reports, films such as Shakib Khan’s Prince and Siam Ahmed’s Rakshosh, which were originally scheduled to be shot in India, are now proceeding with production in Sri Lanka. Director Mehdi Hasan Hriday confirmed to an Indian media outlet that he and his team have already arrived in Sri Lanka for Rakshosh. Similarly, the cast and crew of Prince landed in the country on Saturday, 10 January.

Indian news sources indicate that the original plans involved extensive location shoots across several major cities, including Kolkata, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. Discussions and agreements had progressed smoothly with local authorities. However, unexpected domestic developments in Bangladesh created a series of complications related to cross-border travel, visas, and permissions, putting the shooting schedule at risk. As a result, producers opted for Sri Lanka, which offers similar environmental conditions and a hassle-free production experience.

Director Mehdi Hasan Hriday expressed his disappointment at having to cancel the Indian shoots, highlighting the long-standing cultural, economic, and artistic ties between India and Bangladesh. “There has been a temporary pause in our collaboration with India, which saddens us,” he noted. “Sri Lanka emerged as a viable alternative, given its geographical similarity and logistical convenience.”

Speculation has circulated that diplomatic tensions between the two countries—particularly following the exclusion of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders—may have influenced the decision. Hriday, however, firmly dismissed this, stating that cricketing matters have not impacted the film productions and that he is optimistic the issues will soon be resolved.

Preparations are also underway for Abu Hayat Mahmud’s Prince: Once Upon a Time in Dhaka, with a portion of the crew already on-site in Sri Lanka. If all goes as planned, filming is expected to commence next week. Notably, both productions feature Indian actresses: Jyotirmoyee Kundu will star opposite Shakib Khan in Prince, while Sushmita Chatterjee will feature alongside Siam Ahmed in Rakshosh.

Filming Schedule Overview:

The shift underscores Bangladesh’s growing flexibility in international film production, while ensuring that creative schedules remain uninterrupted.