We won’t lag behind’: Shakib Khan

Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan is likely to collaborate with a Pakistani actress in his upcoming film “Mohabbat”, sparking speculation about a potential cross-border collaboration between the Bangladeshi and Pakistani film industries.

The actor himself hinted at the possibility while speaking at an awards ceremony recently, revealing that a Pakistani actress would be part of the project.

“It appears we might be working on a project with the Pakistani film industry, which will also feature a Pakistani actress. I looked into their film industry—previously, I was under the impression that they had very little, but it turns out they have nearly 1,200 operational cinema halls, along with numerous multiplexes. I was even more surprised to learn that a single blockbuster film there can earn between 200 and 300 crore rupees. We certainly won’t lag behind in that regard,” Shakib said.

Meanwhile, director Himel Ashraf, known for his successful films “Priyotoma” and “Rajkumar”, is preparing “Mohabbat”, featuring Shakib Khan in the lead role. Like his previous two projects, the upcoming film will be produced by Arshad Adnan’s Versatile Media.

The casting of the female lead has become a major topic of discussion in the film industry. According to various sources, several prominent Pakistani actresses are being considered for the role. Two popular Indian actresses are also said to be under consideration.

However, the actress who will eventually share the screen with Shakib has yet to be confirmed. Both director Himel Ashraf and producer Arshad Adnan have remained tight-lipped about the casting, although they have indicated that the name of the female lead will be announced soon.

According to the production house, shooting for “Mohabbat” is scheduled to begin in the first week of January 2027. The makers are currently planning to release the film during Eid-ul-Azha in May 2027.