For Namashi Chakraborty, May 15, 2026, marks a significant double milestone. Not only is his new film Aakhri Sawal releasing nationwide, but his controversial project The Bengal Files is finally hitting screens in West Bengal—a release that has been stalled since September 2025.
In a recent conversation with NDTV, Namashi reflected on the emotional weight of this moment and the challenges the team faced during their initial attempt to promote the film in Kolkata.
“Shooed Out” of Kolkata: Namashi Recalls the Backlash
Namashi opened up about the resistance the cast and crew encountered during the promotional cycle for The Bengal Files in August 2025.
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The Incident: He recalled being “shooed out” of a trailer launch event in West Bengal where the team wasn’t even permitted to screen the footage.
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A Cusp of Democracy: Namashi noted that the experience made him feel that democracy in the state was at a “cusp” at that time.
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Message to the Audience: Following the BJP’s recent victory in the state elections, the film (directed by Vivek Agnihotri) has finally cleared its hurdles. Namashi urged everyone—regardless of religion—to watch it, stating, “The truth doesn’t have any religion, the truth is just the truth.”
On the Sets of Aakhri Sawal
While celebrating the release of The Bengal Files, Namashi is also promoting the high-octane drama Aakhri Sawal, which features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Amit Sadh, and Neetu Chandra.
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Screaming at Sanju Baba: Co-star Amit Sadh shared a humorous anecdote where Namashi had to perform a heated confrontation scene with Sanjay Dutt. Namashi reportedly stayed in character and was extremely loud, but the second the director yelled “cut,” he immediately began nervously apologizing to the veteran superstar.
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The “Bachchan” Connection: Amit Sadh admitted he related to Namashi’s nerves, recalling how he felt a similar shock of realization while acting opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Sarkar.
Grand Promotion in Kolkata
The buzz for Aakhri Sawal is reaching a fever pitch as the team heads to Kolkata for a grand press conference on May 14. In a special highlight, Namashi will be joined by his father, veteran superstar Mithun Chakraborty, to promote the film. Notably, both father and son were part of The Bengal Files, though they did not share screen space in that project.
National News Round-up: May 13, 2026
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Economy: The Centre has raised gold and silver import duties to 15% to stabilize foreign exchange amidst the ongoing West Asia crisis.
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Austerity: PM Modi has cut his official convoy by 50% and transitioned to EVs, a move mirrored by several Chief Ministers to conserve fuel.
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Tragedy: The political fraternity is mourning the death of Prateek Yadav (38), younger son of late Mulayam Singh Yadav, in Lucknow.
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Music: Fame Gurukul alum Qazi Touqeer reunited with Arijit Singh in West Bengal, praising the singer as a “genius” with “no corruption.”
