Actress Shabnur, once one of the biggest stars of Bangladeshi cinema, has been absent from the screen for many years. Two years ago, news of her return to films generated significant excitement among fans. That comeback project was “Rangana”, directed by Arafat Hossain and produced by Mousumi Mithila.

The film’s muhurat took place in February 2024 with a big arrangement and soon after, Shabnur returned to Bangladesh to shoot a major portion of the film in Pubail and Dhaka. However, she later travelled back to Australia before completing the remaining scenes, with a mutual understanding that she would return later to finish the project.

In a recent turn of events, Shabnur was shocked to discover that the incomplete footage of Rangana had been uploaded to YouTube. The unexpected release of these unfinished clips triggered strong reactions from fans and created widespread controversy. In a Facebook post on Friday, the actress expressed her deep anger and disappointment, accusing the director and producer of severe unprofessional behaviour.

Shabnur wrote that the film industry is increasingly suffering from a lack of professionalism, discipline, and mutual respect. According to her, the absence of skilled directors and committed producers is making it difficult to produce quality films. She said many in the industry are opting for shortcuts without valuing the essence of cinema, harming both the standard of films and the dignity of artistes.

Regarding “Rangana”, the actress stated that she had accepted the project with optimism, particularly seeing the positive reactions during the muhurat. She shot for several days under extremely hot weather, but various complications prevented the film from being completed. She had spoken with the producer and agreed to resume shooting upon her return to Bangladesh, with an understanding that the film would be released in theatres.

However, from the beginning, Shabnur felt the production suffered from disorganisation and broken promises. A low-quality poster was released early on, drawing criticism online.

The release of the unfinished footage on YouTube was, for her, the final and most unacceptable breach. Shabnur said she is a big-screen actress and would never have agreed to a project intended for free online distribution. She emphasised that she never refused to complete the film, yet footage was published without her permission.

Concluding her statement, Shabnur said the incident has damaged her long-earned reputation and is a disappointing reflection of the state of the local film industry. She thanked her fans for their unwavering support during the controversy.