TBT DESK

Popular Bangladeshi actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba created a buzz on both sides of the border with his performance in the Tollywood film “Chalchitra” about two years ago.

Breaking away from his familiar romantic image, Apurba impressed the audience with his performance in the thriller, sharing the screen with Tollywood actors Tota Roy Choudhury, Anirban Chakrabarti and Raima Sen. Many viewers felt that Apurba dominated the second half of the film with his compelling portrayal.

A prequel to “Chalchitra” is now in the works. However, Apurba will not appear in the upcoming instalment, prompting speculation that he had been dropped from the project. Director Pratim D Gupta has now clarified the reason behind his absence.

In a post on Apurba’s official fan club, Pratim D Gupta said “Chalchitra” is like his own child and acknowledged that Apurba’s name is deeply associated with the film. 

“Believe me, the idea of making a sequel to ‘Chalchitra’ without Apurba is completely meaningless to me,” Gupta wrote.

However, he clarified that the upcoming film is not a sequel but a prequel titled “Chalchitra: The Ekhchala Murders”. The story will take the audience back to a period before the events of “Chalchitra: The Frame Fatal”. Since the new story is set earlier, Apurba’s character naturally does not fit into the timeline.

Gupta urged fans not to assume that Apurba has been excluded from the Chalchitra universe. He said the actor’s character remained part of the story at the end of the first film and that this has not changed.

If a future instalment continues the story from where the original film ended, Gupta confirmed that Apurba will definitely return. He also expressed hope that the prequel will receive the same love as the first film and hinted that popular characters could reunite in a potential third chapter.