Bengali actress Swastika Mukherjee will soon be seen in an Indo-American film “Chheledhora”.
The shooting for the thriller, written and directed by Shieladitya Moulik, will be held across Itanagar and Ziro in the north-eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The film follows the story of Brishti, a divorced woman, described as flawed, wounded, and largely misunderstood by people around her, who impulsively “steals” her daughter for a birthday celebration, only to find the child genuinely abducted.
A sudden, volatile discovery takes Brishti on a life-altering odyssey. Merging family drama with dark humour and thriller elements, the narrative is anchored by a morally complex female lead and is strategically positioned for the international festival circuit.
“‘Chheledhora’ is a story about broken parents discovering the courage and selflessness they didn’t know they possessed. I’m deeply interested in flawed people who are still capable of love. This film may unfold like a road journey with unexpected twists and turns, but at its heart, it’s about healing – about how children, often unknowingly, become the moral compass for adults. It’s a very intimate story about second chances and rediscovering one’s humanity,” said Moulik.
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Swastika is known for her roles in series and films like “Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!” for Yash Raj Films, Buddhadeb Dasgupta’s Telluride and Toronto title “Janala”, Prime Video series “Paatal Lok”, Netflix’s “Qala”, and, most recently, a gangster turn in “Kaali Potka”.
“Brishti is not an easy woman to like, and that’s what moved me,” said Mukherjee. “She is impulsive, wounded and deeply flawed, but her love for her daughter is instinctive and fierce. I was drawn to the vulnerability in her – the way this unexpected journey forces her to confront herself. At its heart, this is a very tender story about motherhood, forgiveness and finding strength in the most fragile moments.”
The film is co-produced by India’s Handyyman and Sita22 Films.