Datta's fate hangs in the balance

It’s been almost a month since the Lok Sabha election results were announced, but there is no sign of Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed returning to India for the shoot of Datta, which has been on hold ever since the controversy made headlines. Though the shoot was scheduled to restart in June, director Nirmal Charkraborty said that he cannot decide anything until the controversy dies down. “We are not thinking of replacing him just yet, but if he cannot come back to India for the shoot, then we will have to take a decision,” said Nirmal.

Ferdous was recently in India to shoot for Datta, a film based on the novel by

Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay

, where he was playing the character of Bilash. Merely 10 per cent of the film’s shoot, which began in April this year in

Bolpur

, was done. During his visit here, Ferdous was seen at a political rally where he campaigned for a TMC candidate. Following the incident, the actor, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) blacklisted him from making any further visit to India. The decision was based on a report from Bureau of Immigration regarding visa violations committed by the star.

Meanwhile, the shoot of Hari Viswanathan’s second feature film, titled

Bansuri

, which was taking place in north Bengal’s Jaipaiguri, was stopped last month due to law and order situation. The shoot was taking place at Jalpaiguri Hospital and Rituparna Sengupta was present among the main cast. Music director Debojyoti Mishra is composing the music for the film.