Dev Makes Public Plea to End Work Ban on Co-Star Anirban Bhattacharya
On Friday, actor and Member of Parliament Dev stirred significant attention with a direct public appeal. He called upon the Federation of Cine Technicians & Workers of Eastern India and the Chief Minister of Bengal to act. His request focused on lifting an unofficial work ban affecting his Raghu Dakat co-star, Anirban Bhattacharya.
Dev addressed representatives from the Federation and the Eastern India Motion Picture Association during a formal meeting. He stated clearly, "Please let Anirban work. As an actor, he possesses so much to offer the Bengali film industry." The actor-MP emphasized his point with folded hands, offering an apology on Bhattacharya's behalf.
A Ban Impacting Livelihood
Dev highlighted the personal cost of the ban. "For the past six months, he has faced a ban from working in Tollywood. This situation is not right. He needs to earn his living," Dev explained. The industry now watches closely to see if this unofficial restriction against Anirban will finally be removed.
When contacted on Saturday for further comment, Dev maintained his stance. "I expressed everything necessary on Friday. I am confident the authorities will now examine the matter," he said. He reinforced his appeal by adding, "Please allow Anirban to work and live his life. The Bengali film industry is currently in a phase where we must support each other and remain united."
The Broader Context of Boycott Culture
This incident is not isolated. Tensions between Tollywood and the Federation began in 2024. Several prominent filmmakers, including Srijit Mukherji and Kaushik Ganguly, publicly supported director Rahool Mukherjee. The Federation had banned Mukherjee from shooting for three months, alleging rule violations during a foreign shoot.
The conflict escalated sharply in early 2025. A group of filmmakers, featuring Anirban Bhattacharya, Parambrata Chatterjee, and Subrata Sen, approached the Calcutta High Court. They filed a case against the Federation, accusing it of undue interference in their professional work. Their allegations were serious. They claimed the Federation frequently attempted to control shooting schedules, crew selections, and production decisions. This made it increasingly difficult for directors and producers to operate freely within the Bengali film industry.
Court Ruling and Ongoing Issues
In September 2025, the Calcutta High Court delivered a significant ruling on the case. The court firmly stated that no entity holds the right to prevent an artist from working. It declared that interfering with an individual's livelihood is illegal. The court also advised affected filmmakers to contact the police if such obstructive actions persisted.
Despite this legal clarity, tangible change has been slow. The latest individual affected is actor Riddhi Sen. He was scheduled to work in director Suman Ghosh's film, Shrirampur Diaries. However, reports indicate technicians are reluctant to collaborate with him. Consequently, the film's shooting has been temporarily suspended.
The Federation has not issued any official statement regarding Riddhi Sen's situation. Speaking about his experience, Sen explained the origin of his troubles. "All these issues started because of a social media post I made on November 16. After that, the Federation demanded I send an apology letter. They wanted an assurance I would not write anything similar in the future," he said.
Riddhi Sen questioned this demand. "Why should I comply? As a citizen in a democratic nation, I possess the right to express my opinions freely. If I lose work opportunities for stating my views, then so be it," he asserted, highlighting the ongoing struggle between artistic expression and industry control.
