A Love Story a Year in Development
Adnan Al Rajeev has cast Afran Nisho and Mehazabien Chowdhury in Opolok, his first feature film, bringing a familiar television pairing into a romantic project whose story he spent a year developing. The director announced their involvement on social media, sharing a photograph of the actors at the signing of their contracts.
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Al Rajeev said he reached a screenplay that matched his vision a few months before the casting announcement, after repeated changes to the story. His ambition is a simple, emotionally engaging film in which viewers can recognise something of their own lives through its account of love.
The announcement gives the project its two principal faces after Al Rajeev first disclosed plans for a romantic feature on June 12. It also brings a personal connection to his professional debut in feature filmmaking: Mehazabien is his wife, as well as an established actor whose previous leading film roles include Priyo Maloti and Saba.
Production preparations are underway. Al Rajeev says filming will begin soon, while accounts citing people involved in the production suggest it could start next year. No calendar date for filming or release has been announced, and the director says further details will come through an official announcement.
What Kind of Romance Is Opolok?
Al Rajeev has described Opolok as a love story built around recognisable feelings. In his casting announcement, the director explained the kind of connection he hopes the film will make with its audience. Translated from Bengali, he said:
We want to make an honest, simple and touching romantic film. Where people will find themselves alongside love. I hope the affection with which we are going to make the film will reach you too.
Nisho and Mehazabien will play two important characters in that story. Al Rajeev has kept their identities and the events surrounding them private, choosing to introduce the actors before explaining the plot. The clearest description of the film so far is therefore its emotional direction: a romance shaped around experiences viewers can relate to.
From Revisions to a Film Team
Al Rajeev's account of the writing process places the casting announcement after a substantial period of development. He worked on the story for about a year, moving through several stages of writing, revision and refinement before arriving at a screenplay he felt suited both his ideas and his approach to directing.
A screenplay turns a story into the scenes, actions and dialogue that a film crew will work from. For Opolok, reaching that stage meant bringing a long held ambition closer to production, with actors now attached to the central roles.
Al Rajeev has also described how the team grew. A few colleagues who shared his ideas about filmmaking joined him early, and others became involved as the project developed. His announcement presented Opolok as a shared undertaking carrying the team's hopes and affection.
The main steps disclosed so far are:
- June 12: Al Rajeev announced plans for his first feature and identified it as a love story.
- During development: He spent about a year working on the story, repeatedly revising it.
- A few months before the casting announcement: He arrived at a screenplay that matched his vision.
- At the casting announcement: Nisho and Mehazabien were introduced, with a photograph marking their contract signing.
- Next stage: Filming is expected to begin after the current production preparations.
A New Format for a Familiar Director
Opolok marks a change in format for Al Rajeev, whose career has been shaped largely by advertising and work for television. His romantic advertising series Kache Ashar Golpo helped sustain his wish to make a feature centred on love.
His other recognised work includes Bikel Belar Pakhi and Middle Class Sentiment. His short film Ali also received special recognition at the Cannes Film Festival, giving him experience beyond commercials and television before this move into a full length feature.
A feature gives Al Rajeev more time to follow characters and their relationships than an advertisement or short film allows. His comments about the year spent writing Opolok show how much attention has gone into building that longer story before shooting begins.
A Familiar Pairing in Central Roles
Nisho and Mehazabien already have a shared history on television and in web productions. Their performances together have attracted audiences, giving Opolok a pairing that many viewers will recognise before learning anything about the characters.
For Mehazabien, the project follows leading roles in Priyo Maloti and Saba, both of which brought attention to her film acting. Opolok has been described as her third film following those two starring projects, although her developing film commitments also include a guest appearance elsewhere.
Mehazabien's marriage to Al Rajeev makes their collaboration another point of interest. The director's public explanation of the casting, however, has focused on welcoming her and Nisho into the film's world and introducing them as two important characters in the story.
Siam Ahmed had earlier been mentioned as a possible male lead, but he will not appear in Opolok. Nisho is now confirmed in the central cast. Al Rajeev has also said other actors have joined the project and will be introduced in due course.
Preparations Continue Before Shooting
Opolok is in preproduction, the preparation period before filming. This is when a production organises the practical work needed to turn a screenplay into scenes, including schedules, locations and arrangements for the cast and crew.
Al Rajeev says the team has its arrangements in place. Asked about the production's progress, the director said, in translation:
We have everything organised. We will begin shooting soon. We will officially announce the release and the other details.
Another actress may have a role, according to accounts from people connected with the production, but that casting has not been finalised. Al Rajeev's own comments establish that the cast extends beyond the two announced leads, with further introductions planned as work advances.
The production's immediate task is completing the film. Al Rajeev has said his attention is on giving the project his best effort, while keeping more detailed announcements for later.
Other Films Will Also Bring the Actors Together
Opolok is one of several films connecting Nisho and Mehazabien. They are also expected to appear in Pulsirat, while Mehazabien reportedly has a guest role in Khalnayak, which stars Nisho and Toma Mirza.
Mehazabien reportedly filmed her Khalnayak appearance in Kolkata without a public announcement. People connected with that production have sought to keep her participation as a surprise for audiences. Her role there is a brief appearance, compared with the important character Al Rajeev has announced for her in Opolok.
SVF Alpha-i Entertainment Limited had planned Khalnayak for release late in 2026, but that schedule is uncertain. Eid al-Fitr in the following year has been mentioned as a possible alternative. Those plans concern Khalnayak; Opolok's release announcement will come separately from its director.
The three projects give the familiar pairing different kinds of screen appearances: central roles in Al Rajeev's romance, a guest appearance alongside Nisho in Khalnayak, and another shared credit in Pulsirat. For Opolok, the defining development is that its director's long planned love story now has its principal actors attached.
Key Points
- Afran Nisho and Mehazabien Chowdhury will star in Opolok, Adnan Al Rajeev's first feature film.
- Al Rajeev spent about a year developing the story and completed a screenplay matching his vision a few months before the casting announcement.
- The director describes the project as a simple, emotionally engaging romance.
- Production preparations are underway, with further cast announcements expected.
- Al Rajeev says shooting will begin soon; filming and release dates have not been announced.
- Nisho and Mehazabien are also associated with Pulsirat and Khalnayak, with Mehazabien reportedly making a guest appearance in the latter.
