Runa Khan is taking on a new kind of role in Roktochaya, an upcoming psychological thriller short film in which the acclaimed actress will portray a police officer for the first time.
Directed by Ali Zulfikar Zahedi, the film has already completed shooting and is now being prepared for the international festival circuit. The team is reportedly eyeing festivals including the Cannes Film Festival.
With a story built around gender discrimination, institutional authority and resilience, Roktochaya aims to combine psychological tension with a contemporary social message.
Runa Khan Plays Police Officer Shivana Nasrin
In Roktochaya, Runa Khan plays Shivana Nasrin, a principled and outspoken police officer confronted with rising crime in an urban environment.
The character is tasked with maintaining order while navigating the pressures that come with holding authority in a demanding public institution.
For Runa, the role also explores a wider social reality: women in leadership positions are often subjected to greater scrutiny over their competence, decisions and credibility.
The film uses that conflict as part of its psychological and dramatic framework, placing its central character in situations where professional authority and gender expectations collide.
A Thriller With a Social Focus
While Roktochaya is structured as a psychological thriller, its story also addresses discrimination against women and the challenges faced by women attempting to establish authority in contemporary society.
The filmmakers are expected to use suspense and tension to examine questions of power, resilience and intelligence, rather than treating the social theme as a separate element from the thriller narrative.
The combination of crime-related tension and gender-focused themes gives the short film a distinctly contemporary setting.
Ensemble Cast Joins Runa Khan
Produced by Adrian Productions, Roktochaya features an ensemble cast alongside Runa Khan.
The cast includes Aman Reza, Rafah Nanjeba Torsa, Nokshi Tabassum and Affan Mitul, among others.
Rafah Nanjeba Torsa’s involvement adds another notable name to the project, with the actress also appearing in several upcoming productions as she continues to expand her work across cinema and digital projects.
‘Roktochaya’ Targets International Festivals
With principal shooting now complete, Roktochaya is being prepared for submission to international film festivals.
The team is reportedly considering festivals including Cannes, although festival submission should not be confused with official selection. Any confirmed selection would depend on announcements from the respective festival or the filmmakers.
A festival run could give the short film an opportunity to reach audiences outside Bangladesh while bringing further attention to its socially relevant subject.
Runa Khan and Ali Zulfikar Zahedi Team Up Again
Roktochaya is not Runa Khan’s only collaboration with Ali Zulfikar Zahedi.
The actress has also joined Zahedi’s upcoming feature film ** Chalachitra: The Cinema **, a project centred on lives shaped by Bangladesh’s film industry.
The two projects therefore give Runa the opportunity to work with the filmmaker in different formats while exploring distinctly different stories.
With Roktochaya now moving toward its festival phase, audiences will be watching for the film’s eventual release and any international festival announcements surrounding the psychological thriller.
