Weekly Roundup: Here’s what made headline this week in Tollywood

If you have missed the exciting news, gossip or latest developments that have rocked Bengali cinema this week, here is a weekly roundup for you. Take a look:

Weekend roundup: Here's what made headlines this week in Tollywood

Director suffered a heart attack and underwent coronary artery bypass surgery at a city hospital earlier this week. The director was shifted to the general bed from ICU on Sunday afternoon. Of late, he was extremely busy with the shooting schedules of his upcoming films. He even took part in a cricket tournament too! Raja was supposed to shoot for a song-and-dance sequence for his next film ‘Haar Mana Haar’ on Sunday. In his absence, the choreographer conducted the shoot.”

Ritabhari Chakraborty who has always been vocal on issues like body positivity will soon be seen as a plus-size model in Aritra Mukherjee's next film ‘Fatafati’, which addresses the issue of body shaming. Recently a promo video of the upcoming film was announced celebrating International Women’s Day. Incidentally, ‘Fatafati’ which was first announced way back in 2020 will also see Abir Chatterjee playing Ritabhari’s husband. If all goes according to plan, ‘Fatafati’ will hit the shooting floors in April.

Over the last few years films inspired by real-life, heinous acts of terrorism are doing exceptionally well at the box office. Preetam Mukherjee’s next ‘Jai Hind’ is one such story of a mind game between an ATS senior officer and a shrewd IM terrorist, who would leave no stones unturned to inflict terror in India. The action thriller sees Shataf Figar, Indraneil Sengupta, Rajnandini Paul and Poly Chatterjee in pivotal roles. If everything goes according to plan, the film will soon go on the shooting floors. To make the film realistic it will be shot in and around some real locations of Kolkata’s slum areas.

Fans were eagerly waiting to see her for the first time in a Bengali film. Ever since the news of Sunny Leone starring in an Indo-Bangladesh film broke out it made everyone excited. However, according to the latest reports, Sunny can’t start shooting for the film, titled ‘Soldiers’, right now. Her work permit for the film has been canceled by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh. There are rumours that suggest some Islamic groups have threatened to stage protests if Sunny Leone enters Bangladesh. Earlier the ministry had allowed 11 Indian artistes, including Sunny Leone, to shoot in Bangladesh for the big-budget film ‘Soldiers’ directed by Shamim Ahamed Roni. The shooting was supposed to start from March 5 and the schedule was supposed to continue till September 4.

Saswata Chatterjee has proved his mettle not just in Kolkata but in Mumbai as well. Is there any particular difference between the two industries? While many will point out several aspects actor Saswata reminds us of one basic difference and it speaks volumes of his personality. “I have answered this question so many times. Everybody asks the same. See, Bollywood may have its big budget and manpower but Bengal has huge talent and it’s incomparable. You may ask then why we are left behind. I think we have to change our mentality. Here in Kolkata there’s a casual mentality like ‘Ok it will be done’. People have started taking things ‘taken for granted’. This has to change. Except this, we Bengalis are at the same state like others,” explains Saswata.

Like last year, the Joy Filmfare Awards Bangla will be back this year as well and it promises to be yet another night to remember. The mega event to be held in Kolkata will see several bigwigs from the world of Bengali cinema walking the red carpet. Not just that, the night will also see some memories being made on stage as the winners come up to grab their Black Lady. There will be a special tribute performance from Prosenjit Chatterjee as he will sing some Hit songs of Bappi Lahiri who passed away recently. Also, another Tollywood superstar Dev will be performing live at the award ceremony.