Former Shetland star Douglas Henshall has joined the cast for Angh, a 1960s period drama set in India.
The star, who played DI Jimmy Pérez in the first seven seasons of the BBC crime-drama, has signed up for Theja Rio’s directorial debut, which is set in India’s north-eastern state of Nagaland (via Variety).
Angh will reportedly showcase an “untold chapter” in the area’s history, with the narrative following a “proud” Konyak chief who struggles to protect his dying traditions following the arrival of an American missionary.
With the prospect of famine on the horizon and the deterioration of his wife’s health, the chief and his mute son are faced with an “impossible” choice between survival and “staying true” to their roots.
Henshall, who has also appeared in Primeval and Murder Is Easy, will reportedly play a “pivotal” role in the period-drama, with the cast consisting of several first-time local actors from the Nagaland region.
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“We are incredibly excited to bring this story to life,” said Rio of the project. “Nagaland’s history, culture, and untold narratives hold immense cinematic potential, and this film is our way of sharing them with the world.
“Shooting on 16mm, collaborating with local actors, and having Douglas Henshall as part of this journey makes this project truly special. We believe it will be a meaningful addition to the cinematic landscape.”
“This film is deeply personal to us,” added producer Nancy Nisa Beso, of Winter Hymns Films, in a statement. “We are telling a story rooted in Nagaland’s history, but with themes that are universal.
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“Bringing together local talent, a young international crew, and shooting on 16mm has been a rare and special experience. Having Douglas Henshall join us only strengthens our vision, and we can’t wait to share this film with the world.”
Whilst Henshall left his role in Shetland in 2022, the crime drama is still going strong with Ashley Jensen now in the lead role. The show, based on Ann Cleeves’s novels, will return later this year with its 10th season after filming got underway earlier this month.
Angh currently has no release date, while Shetland airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
