Gangubai Kathiawadi actor Shantanu Maheshwari’s first still from the sets of his debut Bengali film Chaalchitro — The Frame Fatale was dropped by director Pratim D. Gupta to mark the former’s 33rd birthday on Thursday.

Wishing Shantanu on his special day, Pratim wrote, “It’s his birthday! So I’m allowed to post a still from Chaalchitro. This is Shantanu Maheshwari in his first Bengali film, releasing some time this year. And I can tell you, you have never seen the boy like this!”

Shantanu, who rose to fame with his portrayal of protagonist Swayam Shekhawat in Channel V’s dance drama Dil Dosti Dance, made his Bollywood debut opposite Alia Bhatt with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's biographical drama Gangubai Kathiawadi in 2022.

Shantanu had previously collaborated with Pratim for the director's 2023 romantic horror comedy Tooth Pari: When Love Bites. Also starring Tanya Maniktala, Tillotama Shome, Sikandar Kher and Adil Hussain in key roles, the vampire fantasy series premiered on Netflix on April 20 last year.

Pratim's upcoming film Chaalchitro is an investigative thriller, revolving around four cops and the women in their lives. Chaalchitro also features Tota Roy Choudhury, Indrajit Bose, Raima Sen, Anirban Chakrabarti and Swastika Dutta in important roles.

Shantanu’s co-star in the film, Tota, extended his best wishes to the birthday boy on Thursday. Sharing a picture with Shantanu on his Instagram story, the Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani actor wrote, “Wishing a very happy birthday to one of the finest performers and one of the nicest human beings.”

As revealed in Pratim’s birthday post for Shantanu, Chaalchitro is slated to hit theatres later this year.