After making a powerful impression with performances in Qala (2022), Paatal Lok (2020) and Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015), actor Swastika Mukherjee steps into a compelling new chapter with the Indo-American production Chheledhora, where she takes on the lead role. The film is set to go on floors from March 1 and will be shot across the breathtaking, largely unexplored landscapes of Itanagar and Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh, lending the narrative a raw and immersive visual texture. Directed by Shieladitya Moulik, who recently tasted theatrical success with Surjo — a film that enjoyed an impressive 11-week run — Chheledhora promises an emotionally layered cinematic experience. Moulik, known to Bollywood audiences for Mrs. Scooter (2015) and the Cannes-acclaimed Charak (2025), brings his distinctive storytelling lens to this ambitious cross-cultural project.
At the heart of the film is Brishti, portrayed by Swastika Mukherjee — a divorced, deeply flawed and often misunderstood woman who impulsively “kidnaps” her own daughter for a birthday celebration. What begins as an emotionally charged misstep spirals into a nightmare when the child is abducted for real. As Brishti scrambles to undo the damage, she embarks on an unconventional and transformative journey that forces her — and other self-absorbed parents — to confront uncomfortable truths about love, responsibility and redemption. Blending family drama with thriller undertones and streaks of dark humour, Chheledhora positions itself as a rare Bengali-language road film anchored by a morally complex female protagonist. The makers intend to take the film to international festivals, celebrating cinema as a universal language that transcends borders.
Expressing her excitement, Swastika Mukherjee shared that Brishti’s imperfections and fierce maternal instinct drew her to the role. Moulik describes the film as an intimate story about broken parents, healing, and second chances — a narrative where children unknowingly become the moral compass for adults. Produced by Handyyman (Mumbai) and Sita22 Films (USA/India), and featuring Italian cinematographer Vincenzo Condorelli, Chheledhora stands as a striking example of rooted storytelling with global resonance.
