source - Facebook
Members of the Calcutta film industry expressed their shock and sorrow on Wednesday over the tragic killing of Bangladeshi actor Shanto Khan and his father, producer Salim Khan, during the recent unrest in Bangladesh.
Many Calcutta-based actors, several of whom have collaborated with Shanto Khan in Bangladeshi films, refrained from commenting on the specific reasons behind the killings, citing the internal nature of the matter.
“I was stunned after hearing the news that he and his father were killed. We don’t know the circumstances leading to their deaths. It saddens my heart to learn they were killed. Artists like us who thrive on art and creativity always yearn for peace, amity, and brotherhood,” said popular actor Rajatabha Dutta.
Dutta, who worked with Shanto in the 2022 Bangladeshi film Bikkhov (Resentment), shared his memories of the young actor. “During our shoot in Chandpur (in Bangladesh) for the movie, he personally took care of my needs. He was attentive to my needs even at the hotel. I do not know how or why he had to die at such a young age when his career was looking up,” he said.
Dutta chose not to comment on the broader situation in Bangladesh, focusing instead on his personal grief.
Shanto Khan made his debut with Prem Chor in 2019 and later starred in Piya Re in 2021, Bubujaan in 2023, and Anto Nagar in 2024.
Actor Kaushani Mukhopadhyay, who starred opposite Shanto in Piya Re, expressed her distress over the news. “I got the deeply disturbing news late Monday night and have remained distressed ever since.” She recalled Shanto’s hospitality and respect during their time filming in Chandpur and Dhaka. “Since I was senior in the industry, Shanto was very respectful towards me and shared his ambition of making a significant impact in the industry,” Mukhopadhyay said.
She expressed hope for the restoration of peace in Bangladesh. “I believe in the triumph of humanity and hope the situation will soon turn normal there.”
Shanto, who also worked as a model, played the role of young Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the film Tungiparar Miya Bhai in 2021.
Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty expressed his shock at the killings, saying, “Any death, be it of a protesting student, a policeman, an actor, a producer, or a political activist, is shocking. All of us have fond memories of working in Bangladesh. I am not merely saying this as a stakeholder of the film industry, but also as a human being and a citizen of India.”
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Actor-director Parambrata Chatterjee, who has worked on several projects in Bangladesh, was also appalled by the violence in the neighboring country. He condemned the vandalism of statues of iconic figures during the turmoil.
According to media reports, Shanto and his father, Selim Khan, were lynched in Chandpur on Monday night. Selim Khan, a former Awami League leader and owner of a renowned Bangladeshi production house, had financed films such as Tungi Parar Miya Bhai and Commando. The killings are part of a wave of attacks against Awami League supporters in recent days.
Sheikh Hasina, head of the Awami League government, resigned on Monday amid the ongoing unrest.
