Feminist Supernatural Drama ‘The Difficult Bride’ Unveils Cast as Rubaiyat Hossain Wraps Principal Photography (EXCLUSIVE)

Acclaimed Bangladeshi director Rubaiyat Hossain, known for her powerful women-centric films, has completed principal photography in Dhaka on her feminist supernatural drama “The Difficult Bride,” unveiling a cast led by three Bangladesh National Film Award winners.

The production brings together Rikita Nondine Shimu (Venice selection “Once Upon a Time in Calcutta”), Azmeri Haque Badhon (Asia Pacific Screen Awards best actress winner for Cannes selection “Rehana”) and Sunehrah Binte Kamal (“No Dorai”). They’re joined by Zaineen Karim Chowdhury, a Smith College graduate making her lead acting debut after previously serving as an assistant director.

The narrative follows Zai, a bride-to-be in present-day Dhaka who is in love with her groom and dreams of a fairytale wedding, but secretly struggles with her body’s resistance to wedding rituals. As stress and emotional pain intensify, a mysterious woman with long hair begins appearing in Zai’s imagination.

“These actors made me feel safe enough to open myself completely. They gave everything – emotionally, spiritually, creatively. I am very grateful for their trust, their generosity, their sheer artistry and conviction,” Hossain says.

“Casting Zaineen as the lead cast was a huge leap of faith for me as she had no experience in acting and came with no training. However, she was able to deliver exactly what I needed and can’t imagine anyone else in this role,” Hossain adds. “She worked extremely hard and completely internalized the role. She was someone who made me feel safe enabling me to open up my most private inner emotions to her.”

Hossain’s films have travelled the world and won awards. “Meherjaan” (2011) won laurels at the Abuja, Long Island, New Jersey, Northampton and Philadelphia festivals, “Under Construction” (2015) swept the Vesoul Asian Film Festival and won at Dhaka, Cine bajo la Luna and Salamindanaw, while “Made in Bangladesh” (2019) played Toronto, swept Amiens and won Torino and Tromsø.

Marking the culmination of a project she describes as “a film 21 years in the making,” Hossain first attempted “The Difficult Bride” as a short film in 2006 before shelving it, returning to the material repeatedly across two decades.

“I kept revisiting and rewriting this story over the last 21 years,” Hossain says. “This film lived with me for half my life. To finally make it — with these actors, this team, at this moment — feels like a quiet miracle.”

Behind the camera, the film features cinematography by Leonor Teles, the Portuguese filmmaker and Golden Bear winner whose recent work includes “Baan” (2023). “Working with Leonor was a joy and a gift,” Hossain says. “She brought courage, intuition, sensitivity and an emotional attentiveness that enriched the film’s world without ever imposing on it. Her images held space for the vulnerability I was trying to explore. I really can’t imagine doing this film with anyone else, so I am glad Leonor could do it despite many schedule issues.”

Production design comes from Jonaki Bhattacharya (Venice winner “Labour of Love”), while the score is composed by James Williams (“Raw,” “Titane”) and Dameer Khan. Badhon, Chowdhury, Khan and Shimu contributed additional dialogue throughout the shoot.

The shoot marked what Hossain calls a home ground project, filmed in her own residence and led by predominantly female heads of department. Editor Raphaëlle Martin-Hölger, who previously cut Hossain’s “Made in Bangladesh,” returns for post-production duties. Sound engineer Marie-Clotilde Chery rounds out the key crew.

“The Difficult Bride” is produced by François d’Artemare (France), Anna Katchko (Germany), Pedro Borges (Portugal), Ingrid Lill Høgtun (Norway) and Hossain (Bangladesh). Production companies include France’s Les Films de l’Après-midi, Germany’s Tandem Productions, Portugal’s Midas Filmes, Norway’s Barentsfilm AS and Bangladesh’s Khona Talkies.

The film is backed by Norway’s Sorfond, Germany’s World Cinema Fund, Portugal’s ICA, the Eurimages Fund and France’s Aide aux Cinémas du Monde (CNC). The project previously participated at the the Berlinale Co-Production Market.

The project will be presented at the Les Arcs Film Festival’s Work-in-Progress program later this month. Post-production is currently underway, with completion expected by March 2026.