Leaked ‘Rongona’ Footage Sparks Fury from Star Shabnoor

In a shocking breach of professional protocol, raw and unfinished footage from the highly anticipated comeback film of Dhallywood superstar Shabnoor, titled ‘Rongona,’ has been leaked online, drawing strong condemnation from the actress herself. The incident has not only disappointed her legion of fans but has also sparked a broader conversation about the deteriorating standards within the Bangladeshi film industry.

The beloved actress, who returned to the silver screen after a significant hiatus, found her comeback mired in controversy when unedited clips from the incomplete project began circulating widely on YouTube and Facebook. Expressing her profound frustration and anger, Shabnoor took to her official Facebook page on Friday to issue a lengthy statement, detailing the “deeply disappointing” experience and calling out the “unprofessionalism” that plagued the production from the start.

A Stellar Career, An Interrupted Journey

Shabnoor, who captivated audiences with her debut in ‘Chandni Raate’ (1993), reigned as one of Dhallywood’s leading heroines for over two decades. However, her on-screen presence became sporadic after 2013, as she split her time between Dhaka and Australia for family reasons. Her return to Dhaka in late 2023 was met with great excitement, as she announced not one, but three new films, with ‘Rongona’ being the most prominent symbol of her professional resurgence.

A Troubled Production from the Outset

In her candid social media post, Shabnoor revealed that the troubles began long before the leak. She described committing fully to the project, shooting for several days under challenging conditions, including an extreme heatwave, with the clear understanding that she would return later to complete the remaining portions.

However, she alleged a pattern of unprofessional behaviour from the production team. “From the very beginning, things were not right,” she wrote. She pointed to early warning signs, such as the premature printing and distribution of “low-quality posters” even before principal photography had concluded. She also cited “chaos within the shooting unit” and a series of broken promises, including unfulfilled plans to film songs abroad and have the final edit completed overseas.

The Final Straw: A Damaging Leak

The most egregious violation, according to the actress, was the discovery that raw, ungraded, and incomplete scenes from the film had been uploaded to various digital platforms without her knowledge or consent.

“Who authorised this?” she questioned in her post, expressing her shock and betrayal. “This is not just a clip; it’s a violation of trust and a grossly unprofessional act.” Shabnoor was quick to clarify that she had never abandoned the project and was, in fact, preparing to return to Dhaka in December to finish filming. She outright rejected any suggestion of scrapping the existing footage and starting over, stating that her hard work under difficult circumstances should not be so carelessly discarded.

A Symptom of a Larger Crisis

Moving beyond her personal grievance, Shabnoor framed the incident as a symptom of a deeper malaise affecting the Bangladeshi film industry. She argued that the growing lack of professionalism, discipline, and mutual respect is creating an environment where producing quality cinema has become increasingly difficult.

“‘Rongona’ stands as a painful example of this decline,” she noted. “Such incidents are damaging not just for an artist’s morale, but for the entire industry’s reputation and its ability to tell good stories. How can we expect our cinema to thrive when basic professional ethics are not followed?”

The leak of ‘Rongona’s’ footage has sent ripples through the Dhallywood community, with many fellow actors and filmmakers expressing solidarity with Shabnoor. The incident underscores the urgent need for stronger production standards and ethical practices to protect the work and integrity of artists, ensuring that much-anticipated comebacks and new projects are not derailed by behind-the-scenes chaos. As of now, the producers of ‘Rongona’ have not issued an official public statement regarding the leak or the actress’s allegations.

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