SHEHUB MUNAWAR  WAHID

Shobnom Bubly is taking a temporary break from acting as she embraces a new chapter of motherhood. However, her personal commitments have not brought the production of her upcoming film ‘Dhakaiya Devdas’ to a halt. Director Zahid Hossain plans to continue shooting the film without Bubly for the rest of this year, with the actress expected to return to the sets in January.

Shooting for the film has already resumed. A few days ago, scenes featuring a boat race were filmed on the Buriganga River. Scenes depicting Durga Puja are scheduled to be shot next month. Bubly will not be part of these sequences for now, as the director plans to focus on the surrounding atmosphere and other characters.

Zahid Hossain said he would continue shooting the film without Bubly throughout the year. He plans to shoot her portions at Dhakeshwari Temple in January. Although Bubly is required for some scenes depicting the festive atmosphere of Durga Puja, the director will initially film the setting and other elements of those sequences. Scenes featuring the actress playing Bubly’s friend will also be shot during the same period.

So far, around 20 to 25 per cent of ‘Dhakaiya Devdas’ has been filmed. The director plans to complete the remaining portions through continuous shooting.

Bubly stars in the film alongside Ador Azad and Mamunur Rashid Apu. The cast also includes Shahiduzzaman Selim, Lutfor Hasan George, Tariq Anam Khan, Misha Sawdagor, Dipa Khondokar, Rozi Siddiqui and Dilara Zaman, among others.

The film is being made against the backdrop of Old Dhaka’s heritage and culture. It will feature scenes depicting Muharram, iftar markets, Eid processions and Eid-ul-Azha celebrations, along with traditional songs from Old Dhaka.

According to the director’s plans, the film is expected to be released after Eid-ul-Azha in 2027. There are also plans to screen it at various international film festivals outside Bangladesh.