Entertainment Desk:

With her charming smile and expressive eyes, young actress Aisha Khan has already made a mark on audiences. In a short span of time, she’s earned praise for her performances on television, and now she’s stepping into cinema. Her film Shekor is set to have its world premiere at the International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA) in Toronto, Canada. Before it hits theatres in Bangladesh, the film will be screened at the festival on October 18.

Shekor delves into themes of migration, displacement, identity, and the search for belonging, a story deeply tied to human experience.

Photo: Collected

Aisha joined the project last year. She first met actor FS Nayeem at several events, and it was through him that director Prasun Rahman came to know about her. Soon after, she received a call from the team. “They said they were making a film for an international festival and wanted me to be part of it,” Aisha recalls.

“When Prasun bhai called, I told him I’d do it only if I liked the story. Later, the three of us sat together, and he shared the story and the plan. It was clear they already had most of it figured out, and they just needed to bring me on board. After hearing everything, I felt I could trust this team,” Aisha said.

Based on a novel by Sanaul Mustafa, Shekor immediately appealed to Aisha. “We rarely see stories about the lives of expatriate Bangladeshis in our cinema,” she explained. “I felt it was important to be part of a film like this. Since my debut, I’ve wanted to work in films made for the festival circuit.”

In the film, Aisha plays Falguni, a woman raised in a family where everyone is involved in music. Her co-star FS Nayeem plays Aakash, Falguni’s neighbor. “Our characters share a bond of friendship and love,” Aisha said.

What drew her most was the emotional depth of the story. “Almost every family in Bangladesh has at least one member living abroad,” she noted. “About 60 to 70 percent of families have that connection. Shekor revolves around a man who leaves his family, his mother, his country, and his culture behind to live overseas. When he returns, he finds everything changed—relationships, places, emotions. That tension between what was lost and what remains was what inspired me to take this role.”

When asked what audiences can expect, Aisha said, “They’ll see reflections of their own families. Expatriate viewers might find themselves in Aakash’s journey, while those in Bangladesh might relate to my character Falguni or to Dilara Zaman Aunty. Many will recognize their own stories in these characters.”

For Aisha, Shekor isn’t just another film, it’s an emotional journey that mirrors the feelings of those watching it. The actress also revealed that the film is expected to be released in Bangladesh during next year’s Eid.

As for her future plans, Aisha said she’s currently focused on television dramas. “Right now, I’m busy with TV work. When I move fully into films, I’ll focus only on that. I can’t do too many things at once.”