Popular faces come together for Chorki’s family entertainer ‘Aatka’

As the year drew to a close, a group of renowned veteran and emerging artistes came together for what appeared to be a casual adda. Present at the gathering were Abul Hayat, Rosey Siddiqui, Saberi Alam, Mousumi Nag, Arosh Khan, Sunerah Binte Kamal, Shohel Mondol, and Fariha Rahman, with influencer, writer, and vocalist Raba Khan acting as the bridge between generations. Abul Hayat described it as a "family adda"—a description that soon made sense.

All of them will be seen as members of the same family in "Aatka," an upcoming original series from popular OTT platform Chorki. The series is set to premiere at midnight on January 14 (January 15) and will mark Chorki's first release of the new year. The platform has chosen a family-centric narrative, layered with multiple twists, to kick off its 2026 content slate.

Directed by Arafat Mohsin Nidhi, "Aatka" is based on a story, screenplay, and dialogues by Raba Khan. The project marks the first series for both Raba and Nidhi as creators. According to them, the title "Aatka" comes from a commonly used local word meaning something sudden or abrupt. The name was finalised during a conversation between the two, when the word repeatedly came up and felt instantly fitting for the series.

During an informal discussion, cast members shared their experiences of working on the show. Saberi Alam described it as "a wonderful experience," Rosey Siddiqui called it a "family drama," while Abul Hayat summed it up as "family fun". Sunerah Binte Kamal simply said it was "fun".

Photo: Courtesy of Chorki

The lighthearted atmosphere continued as the actors joked about their characters. Mousumi Nag teased that Rosey Siddiqui considered herself the heroine, while Abul Hayat declared himself the hero and Arosh Khan the "junior hero". Sunerah hinted at a flamboyant character, whereas Shohel Mondol chose to keep details under wraps. The adda soon turned into a lively exchange of behind-the-scenes stories from the shoot.

Saberi Alam recalled a humorous mix-up during filming, where co-actor Tushar Khan mistakenly assumed she was playing his wife instead of his elder brother's wife, leading to laughter despite the emotional nature of the scene. Abul Hayat added to the joke, saying Tushar, who rarely gets a wife in dramas, became confused after finally getting one in "Aatka".

Rosey Siddiqui highlighted the joy of working with fellow senior artistes after a long time, noting that the laughter on set was so uncontrollable that the director often had to intervene. She added that the younger actors were pleasantly surprised by how humorous the seniors could be.

Speaking about challenges, Abul Hayat remarked that acting itself is always demanding, adding that working with newcomers can be even more challenging because of their strong performances. Arosh Khan shared that his biggest challenge was performing his first scene with Abul Hayat, whom he had admired for years. The pressure, he said, was so intense that he fell ill the night before the shoot—prompting a witty response from Abul Hayat, who joked that he always carried paracetamol.

Photo: Courtesy

Fariha Rahman revealed that she ended up crying during an emotional scene partly out of nervousness, overwhelmed by performing alongside such accomplished artistes. This led Abul Hayat to share a humorous anecdote about acting techniques for crying and laughing, both of which, he joked, could be achieved simply by thinking about his wife.

Arosh Khan also spoke about discovering a new side of Sunerah Binte Kamal during the shoot, praising her ability to play quirky and mischievous characters, a departure from her usual calm roles. Sunerah, in turn, noted that Arosh surprised her with his ability to focus entirely on acting once on set.

The concept of "Aatka" was first developed by Raba Khan and Arafat Mohsin Nidhi in 2023. While initially envisioned as a family drama, elements of horror comedy were later woven into the narrative. Scene-by-scene synopses were completed by the end of 2024, with the remaining work finalised after partnering with Chorki. Raba emphasised that while the core remains a family drama, the series includes numerous twists and layers.

Reflecting on the casting, director Arafat Mohsin Nidhi said he had long wanted to work with a large ensemble, especially actors he grew up watching but rarely sees on screen today. He expressed gratitude that all his first-choice artistes agreed to be part of the project, despite having no prior personal connections with them.

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In addition to the main cast, "Aatka" also features Mukul Siraj, Sumon Anowar, Tonmoy Parvez, Durjoy, Alif Khan, Fardeen Khan, Fahad Reaz Khan, Daliya, and Abu Nayem.