Dev speaks out against cancel culture, hires ‘banned’ actor for directorial debut
Times of India | 12 April 2026
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress MP and actor Dev has spoken out against Tollywood's cancel culture, saying his directorial debut will include actor Anirban Bhattacharya from the previously "banned" list by the Federation of Cine Technicians and Workers of Eastern India. The actor has requested members of the West Bengal Motion Picture Artists' Forum to consider the fate of 600 workers and their families whose future has become uncertain because of the non-cooperation with Leena Gangopadhyay and Saibal Banerjee's production house that was announced by Forum, Federation and EIMPA on Tuesday.
Dev will be busy campaigning in Malda on Sunday when members of the Forum meet to discuss their future course of action. "I have told Bumba-da (Prosenjit Chatterjee) that no matter what, he has to take up the issue of ban in the industry. We are going through such a time when we want to take all decisions ourselves. But the investigation is still on in Rahul's case. Cops haven't shared their findings. I am not sure what decision will be taken on Sunday by the Forum. All I can say is I can't cancel one person without thinking about what will happen to the rest 600. If I am the president, I have to think of the larger perspective," he said, urging the Forum to weigh the future of all those affected rather than focus on cancelling one.
Dev and Subhashree announced late on Friday that their puja release, "DeSu 7," will feature Anirban. The move is being seen as a big step towards breaking the image of Tollywood for being "ban-savvy." "I am against cancel culture. Banning people also deprives technicians of work. In the larger interest, betterment of the industry and the image of the State, it is important to cancel the cancel culture," he said.
He added that his decision came after the 72-hour deadline to Prosenjit Chatterjee to resolve the matter had passed and that he had ensured the process of withdrawing the case from the Competition Commission of India had begun. According to him, if people genuinely want a resolution, it can be achieved quickly through dialogue.
He has not promised work to other banned workers, but said he has urged them, including director Sudeshna Roy, to find new producers and restart shoots. "I am sure technicians will support them. I am there to help them if there is any problem regarding coordination between technicians and them," he said.
On the possibility of resistance from Federation president Swarup Biswas and if he has Plan B in place, Dev said, "I have Plan Z in place too. Come what may, Anirban will work in my film. I am certain all our technicians will work in my film out of love. The problem is if someone starts using power and shows ego," he said.
He stressed that the big issue in Tollywood has always been the shortage of producers, saying that if new producers invest in the industry, technicians will benefit. There is speculation that two new serials may begin soon and provide jobs to unemployed workers, technicians and actors from Magic Moments and Organic Studios Pvt Ltd. But what about concerns about veterans such as Sabitri Chatterjee and Madhabi Mukhopadhyay, as well as office staff linked to the two production houses? "When the decision to ban the production house was taken, I said that an accident happened and Rahul's demise touched a raw nerve for all. Yet, I said that an alternative plan was needed for all those who would lose work. Punishing one person should not mean forcing 600 others onto the street," Dev said.