Known for her Hindi productions with Kaala (2022), Paatallok (2020) and Detective Byomkesh Bakshi! (2015), actress Swastika Mukherjee got the lead role in the film, an Indo-American production titled Cheater. All set to go on floors on March 1, Cheater It will be shot at the untouched locations of Itanagar and Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh.
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The film will be directed by Shiladitya Maulik, who is enjoying fame SurjoHis most recent theatrical hit, which ran for 11 weeks. Maulik is no stranger to Bollywood; he has directed smt scooter (2015) and, more recently, Charak, Which created a stir at Cannes in 2025 and now it is ready to be released in domestic theatres.
Cheater It focuses on Brishti, a divorced, deeply flawed and misunderstood woman, played by Mukherjee, who “steals” her daughter for a birthday celebration, but actually ends up finding the child kidnapped. Brishti must resolve the situation, but in a twist of fate she adopts the most unconventional approach, pushing her on a life-changing journey for her self-centered parents forced to confront their shortcomings as caregivers.
The film blends emotional family drama with thriller elements and dark humor, establishing itself as a rare Bengali-language road film driven by a morally complex female protagonist. Ready to travel the international film festival circuit upon completion, Cheater Will break language barriers to celebrate the language of cinema.
Talking about her role, an excited Swastika said, “Brishti is not an easy woman to like, and that’s what impressed me, she is impulsive, wounded and deeply flawed, but her love for her daughter is spontaneous and fierce. I was drawn to her vulnerability – the way this unexpected journey forces her to confront herself. At its core, this is a very tender story about motherhood, forgiveness and finding strength in the most delicate moments.”
Writer and director Shiladitya Maulik said, “Cheater “It’s a story of broken parents discovering the courage and selflessness they didn’t know they had,” Maulik said. “I’m deeply interested in flawed people who are still capable of love. The film may unfold like a road trip with unexpected turns, but at its core, it’s about healing — about how children, often unknowingly, become moral guides to adults. It’s a very intimate story about second chances and rediscovering one’s humanity.
He further added, “I am really excited to shoot in Arunachal Pradesh. It is not only picturesque, but is a hub of talented actors and technicians. We have 14 cast and crew members from the region. While Arunachal Pradesh is the heart of our film, we have expanded the canvas with an Indo-American production, an Italian cinematographer, Vincenzo Condorelli, and plans to run a strategic international festival.”
Produced by Handyman (Mumbai) and Sita22 Films (USA/India), Cheater It marks a remarkable India-US collaboration and underlines the growing global appetite for regional language stories with universal emotional stakes.
