Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who is also the brand ambassador for Assam tourism, announced her first Assamese film production – Bhoga Khidikee – on Thursday.
Filmmaker Jahnu Barua, who is doing his first Assamese film in four years, helms the project. The film – Bhoga Khidikee or Broken Window – is being produced by Priyanka Chopra’s Purple Pebble Pictures (PPP) and Shahnaab Alam’s Easterly Entertainment of ‘Lunchbox’ fame.
“This is a very special day for me and my team as we announce our first Assamese production…I would have loved but my work commitments have kept me in New York. We are excited to work with an immensely talented cast and crew. I’m a huge fan of Jahnu Barua who has been making thought-provoking films for the past 36 years and he is the captain of our ship. We are honoured to be collaborating with him,” said Priyanka in a video message.
Shooting for the film has already been completed in locations based in and around Kaziranga. Bhoga Khidikee is a multi-layered story from the perspective of a female protagonist whose life is in turmoil due to the ideological and existential clash amongst the three men in her life – her father, husband and a stranger.
Jahnu Barua said that he is hopeful of the project which has been taken from a real life incident.
Priyanka’s mother Madhu Chopra, who was representing Purple Pebble Pictures at a press conference in Guwahati, expressed their gratitude to the state government for helping in their maiden venture in the state.
“We, as a production house, endeavour to showcase Bhoga Khirikee for the world to see,” she said.
The cast of the film includes popular Assamese actress Zerifa Wahid, national award winner Seema Biswas (of Bandit Queen fame), highly-rated actor Bishnu Kharghoria, actor and musician Joy Kashyap and Sanjoy Kharghoria among others.
Mumbai-based Mohommed Ali Shah, nephew of Naseeruddin Shah, has also played an interesting role in the film which is likely to hit the theatres later this year.
Zerifa Wahid thanked Priyanka Chopra and Shahnaab Alam for their initiative to produce an Assamese film. “It’s great that Priyanka Chopra is taking such a substantial step for an Assamese film. It was not that easy to shoot in Kaziranga logistically, but Shahnaab made it happen,” said Zerifa.
