In October 2022, after wrapped up the filming of Shakib Khan's Leader: Amie Bangladesh, director
Raihan Rafi announced the making of a film titled Premik with
Shakib Khan. The director then confirmed that the film's shooting would begin in December that year.[9][10] Almost a year later in September 2023, Channel i confirmed that the film will not be produced due to unspecified reason. The newspaper also confirms that
Chorki, Alpha-I and
Shree Venkatesh Films is planned co-produced a film jointly, slated for release on
Eid al-Adha 2024.[11][12] Initially it was reported in the media that Khan will be acting in a film titled Avineta directed by Raihan Rafi, later Channel i confirmed that the films is not titled Avineta but Toofan.[13] Then on December 11, 2023, through a press conference in Dhaka, production companies Chorki, Alpha-i and SVF officially announced the name of the film as Toofan and Shakib Khan as the lead actor under the direction of Raihan Rafi, which is their first collaboration.[14][15]
The pre-production work of the film began in the first week of January 2024. The film's director Raihan Rafi went to
Chennai, India to select the shooting location in the same month.[16] On April 13, 2024, Shakib Khan went to
India to participate in the shooting of the film.[17][18]
Development
The construction of the set for the shooting of the film at
Ramoji Film City began in the first week of January, where a total of 4 huge sets will be constructed with 100 people working daily. The director confirmed with Kaler Kantho that it would take around two months to make the 4 shooting sets.[19] Rafi confirmed that the sets of this film were built by the same technician who built the sets of the South Indian film franchise
Baahubali. A big budget of the film was spent on the set construction.[20] It was reported that Bangladesh of the nineties will be highlighted in those sets. Cars, trains and even roads of the 90s can be seen in the film. Three major cities of the nineties of the country will be brought up in the film along with various events that happened there.[21][22]
Casting
Masuma Rahman Nabila (left) and
Mimi Chakraborty (right) were signed for the female lead roles, pairing opposite Shakib Khan for the first time.
Jisshu Sengupta (L) will play the lead villain in the film, while
Chanchal Chowdhury (R) will make a cameo appearance in the same role.
Initially,
Nusraat Faria was rumored to be the lead actress of the film. Later on Meril Cafe Live of Prothom Alo, she confirmed that she is not in the film.[23] Later in February 2024, Samakal reported that alongside Indian actress
Mimi Chakraborty, as well as
Madhumita Sarcar's name was also rumored to be the female lead. However, the producer of the film denied it at the time.[24] The film's production company Alpha-i Studios Ltd., SVF and Chorki revealed in a press release that the two actresses of the film is Mimi Chakraborty and
Masuma Rahman Nabila. It is reported that both of them will be playing as the lead female roles, both of them will perform opposite Khan for the first time.[25][26][27][28] There is another rumor that Indian actor
Jisshu Sengupta will play the villainous character in the film,[29][30][31] later, The Daily Star confirmed that he will be played as lead villain in the film.[32] According to a report of Anandabazar Patrika, initially Bangladeshi actor
Afran Nisho was reportedly offered the role of the villain in the film. But as he did not agree to do play the role, the makers later offered Sengupta.[33][34] In late April 2024 Samakal reported that, it was rumored that
Chanchal Chowdhury would be playing a guest role as the villain in the film.[35] Later the same week,
Chorki confirmed in a press release that Chanchal Chowdhury will play a special role in the film,[36][37][38] which will be the first collaboration between Khan and Chowdhury.[6] At the same time, prominent Bangladeshi actor
Fazlur Rahman Babu was also signed for the film, which he confirmed to Jugantor.[39]United News of Bangladesh also reported that
Shahiduzzaman Selim,
Gazi Rakayet, AK Azad Setu and Hasnat Ripon will cast some important characters in the film.[40]
Characterization
Shakib Khan will play the role of a Bangladeshi gangster of nineties in the film.[41][42]
Filming
Initially, the film was supposed to begin filming in India from March 20, 2024, which confirmed by
The Daily Star.[43] Subsequently, the
principal photography of the film was commenced on April 15, 2024 in
India.[44][45][46][47] The films antagonist Chanchal Chowdhury went to India to participate in the filming on April 25. On the same day he participated in the filming. As of April 28, both Shakib Khan and Chowdhury have shot several scenes together.[48][49] After the release of the trailer teaser, the director told Samakal that the majority of the film's shooting has already been completed.[50] The film was wrapped up on May 26, 2024 with a 41-days[b] filming in India. The protagonist also returned to country after the complete of filming as well as his dubbing, on the same day.[53][54]
Themes and influences
The plot of Toofan is about a underworld mafia in the nineties.[55] According to director Raihan Rafi, the film story is inspired by the life of a gangster in Bangladesh in the nineties, which will be a brutal action film.[56] He said that such a film has never been made in Bangladesh, in which Khan will played as a gangster.[41]
Marketing
The announcement poster of the film was released through a press conference on December 11, 2023.[57] 5 pre-production miniature stills were revealed on January 9, 2024, with one of the stills used the poster of renowned Bangladeshi actor
Salman Shah's
Moha Milon.[58] The first glimpse of the film was revealed on March 27, 2024, coinciding with Shakib Khan's 45th birthday. The promotional image portrayed Shakib Khan seated in an armchair, smoking a cigarette, with a
Kalashnikov rifle resting against the chair.[59][60] A 1 minutes 21-seconds
teaser trailer, titled "Toofani Tease" was released on May 7, 2024,[61][62] which received mostly positive response from the audience and critics, with a wide criticism for plagiarism from Indian films
KGF and Animal (2024).[63][64][65] It crossed over 10 million views in just 24 hours across social media, which is a milestone in the history of Bengali films, which also considered as one of the best teaser of Khan's career.[66][67][68] The first official poster of the film, titled "Toofani Poster", was unveiled four days after the release of the official teaser on April 11.[69] Four fan-made posters went viral across social media, which were praised by the film's director.[70]
The film first track "Laage Ura Dhura" was released on May 28, 2024, coinciding with silver jubilee of Shakib Khan's career.[72][73] The chorus tune of the song is adapted from veteran musician Matal Razzak Dewan's song "Morar Kokiley," which was peened by Sharif Uddin. The rest of lyrics were penned by Russell Mahmud and Sharif Uddin, with the tune and music arrangement by
Pritom Hasan.[74] The song is sung by Pritom Hasan and Debosrie Antara, which was include in the film to fit the timeline of 90's. Pritom Hasan and director
Raihan Rafi made a cameo appearance in the song.[75]
The film has been announced to release on the occasion of
Eid al-Adha 2024.[76]
Controversies
After the announcement poster of the film was revealed, it was faced wide criticism for copying the American film John Wick: Chapter 2, which is very similar to John Wick: Chapter 2 film poster.[77][78][79] Just as
Keanu Reeves is seen in the poster of John Wick: Chapter 2, Shakib Khan also seen in the poster of Toofan.[80][81][82]
The
Bangladesh Film Censor Board has accused the film's production company of showing the teaser "Toofani Tease" in theaters without any censor clearance.[83][84][85] The Bangladesh Film Censor Board alleges that the film Toofan is proceeding without adherence to regulations.[86]