Amlan and Jhilik with other members of the crew at the mahurat of the film Target in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 25: After Barsha Priyadarshini and Babushan, another star kid is ready to foray into the Odia film industry. Veteran actor Mihir Das’s son Amlaan is all set to hit the silver screen with his upcoming film Target, expected to release next March.

The film is the fifth production venture of Maa Tarini Films. Amlaan, who is studying film direction in Chennai, will shoot in Manali and Odisha before he leaves to complete his studies.

The cast features an assembly of veteran artistes such as Mihir Das, Mahasweta Ray, Aparajita Mohanty and Meenaketan. Interestingly, senior Das will not play the protagonist’s father in the film. Making her debut in the industry will be Jhilik. The coy Bengali damsel has acted in two Bengali films.

Drawing parallels between the father and son is inevitable, but Amlaan said: “I see my father more as an inspiration and support system than competition.” Mihir, too, shared an anecdote. “On seeing his first shot, I remembered mine. He seemed more confident and understands the technology better,” said senior Das, who was sporting a grey beard.

“It would be unfair if people start comparing us. We are father and son at home, but individual actors in the field,” he said.

Director S.K. Murlidharan is all praise about the debutante. “In the auditions, he showed individualism, which I liked very much. He must be judged as a fresher,” said the director, who promised that the film would ride on the merit of script and screenplay. Jhilik, too, admired Amlaan calling him a dedicated co-star.

Though unexpected, Amlaan said his knowledge about the industry was limited. “I have heard about loss-making ventures and frame-to-frame copied films, but I am here to do films that can bring a positive change,” said the young lad.

Apart from the launch of Target, two other films were launched during the last week — Anu Choudhury starrer Lalpan Bibi, named after the famous Mahasweta Ray hit of the late 70s, and comedian Papu Pom Pom’s new venture Chauka Chhakka. Anu will be seen playing the “queen of hearts” in the film directed by Jagannath Nayak and Abhishek Behura that will be shot from February 14 and might release by August 15.

In Chauka Chhakka, the duo of director K. Murali Krishna and Papu Pom Pom of Rangila Toka will work together again. Youngster Sambit Acharya is also playing a lead in this film, the music for which is directed by Abhijit Majumdar.